Overview
- The Wild Card Series started on Tuesday, Sept. 29, with the Atlanta Braves beating the Philadelphia Phillies in the opening Game 1 and taking a 1-0 series lead.
- The Yankees will host the Red Sox for all games of their best-of-three round and named Cam Schlittler to start Game 1 against Boston's Payton Tolle, with Sonny Gray and Ranger Suárez lined up for Games 2 and 3 if needed.
- Aaron Judge remains an uncertain presence for New York as he pushes to return from a right calf strain and the Red Sox are carrying multiple injury questions, including Willson Contreras expected on the roster and Mickey Gasper out for the series.
- Several clubs are opening with bullpen or opener strategies because of late-season workloads and injuries, including planned bullpen games by the Astros and White Sox and Philadelphia’s use of Zack Wheeler to clinch its spot on the final day.
- Top seeds earned Division Series byes and the Dodgers — a 100-win club and favorites to repeat — await the winners, while the 12-team format and compressed scheduling magnify how short rest and health will shape these short series.