Overview
- MLB released the full Wild Card Series schedule and national TV assignments, which begin Tuesday, Sept. 29, with NBC and Peacock carrying the games.
- The Philadelphia Phillies clinched the National League’s final wild-card berth by beating the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 Sunday and will travel to face the Atlanta Braves in a best-of-three series that opens Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET.
- The New York Yankees will host the Boston Red Sox with Game 1 at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, and the Yankees announced starters for the series as Cam Schlittler (G1), Max Fried (G2) and Gerrit Cole (G3 if necessary).
- The Chicago Cubs will play the San Diego Padres at Petco Park in a late window on Tuesday and Wednesday, with those games streaming on Peacock and airing on NBCSN.
- The compressed format magnifies rotation and bullpen decisions after late-season workload and weather-driven schedule moves, and the postseason will introduce the automated ball‑strike challenge system for the first time.