Ben Rice turned Game 1 of the American League wild card series into a laugher with his two-out grand slam in the bottom of the eighth against the Boston Red Sox, his second home run of the night in the New York Yankees' 9-0 win.
The Yankees led 4-0 heading into the bottom of the eighth and pushed a fifth run across on Austin Wells' sacrifice fly. But Brayan Bello walked Paul Goldschmidt to load the bases again, bringing up Rice. The All-Star fell behind 0-2 but worked Bello to a full count before driving the sixth pitch of the at-bat over the wall, sending Yankee Stadium into a frenzy.
Rice hit 41 home runs in the regular season and had a solo homer off left-hander Erik Miller in the bottom of the sixth inning that had extended the Yankees one-run lead to 2-0.
Cam Schlittler is going to win the American League Cy Young winner in November, and likely garner MVP votes while he is at it.
But if the Yankees ace is going to keep pitching like this against the Red Sox in the postseason, they are going to start naming babies and streets and everything else after him around these parts.
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Schlittler and Rice, the sons of Massachusetts, continued to torment their hometown team and carry the Yankees, combining to run away with a 9-0 win over the Red Sox in Game 1 of the AL wild-card series on Tuesday night at a boisterous Yankee Stadium.
Schlittler struck out 10 across 6 ¹/₃ shutout innings, all of which came in a tight game before Rice helped blow it open — his grand slam in the eighth inning providing the knockout punch on his second home run and fourth hit of the night.
New York Yankees designated hitter Ben Rice reacts after connecting on a home run in the fifth inning during Game 1 of the 2026 American League wild-card series at Yankees Stadium in The Bronx. JASON SZENES FOR NEW YORK POST
“The job’s not done,” Schlittler said. “We’ve got to get another win [Wednesday]. But it’s very well known that if you want to be a legend, which is obviously the goal, you’ve got to do it in the postseason.
“So go out there and have dominant starts and put the team in a position to win. And that’s kind of the most important thing. I thought a lot of guys today did a great job of that.”
The flame-throwing, 25-year-old Schlittler, who mixed in more curveballs than he has in any start of his career, allowed just two singles and one walk. After throwing his career-high 117th and final pitch of the night in the seventh inning of what was then a 2-0 game, he walked off to “MVP” chants and a thunderous standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 48,737.
New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) points at catcher Austin Wells (28) after Wells called for a challenge which was overturned to end the first inning of Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium, Sept. 29, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
After dominating the Red Sox in a clinching Game 3 of the AL wild-card series here last year — tossing eight shutout innings with 12 strikeouts to announce his arrival on the big stage — Schlittler delivered yet again on Tuesday to give the Yankees a chance to finish off the sweep Wednesday when they hand Max Fried the ball against Sonny Gray.
Rice, who like Schlittler (and Anthony Volpe, who also enjoyed a strong night) was signed and scouted by Matt Hyde, led the Aaron Judge-less offense with four of its 12 hits — matching the same number of hits he had across six playoff games last year – while driving in six runs.
“I’ll remember getting a ‘W’ versus the Red Sox — there’s nothing better than that,” Rice said. “I’ll remember Cam going out there and just being lights out, like he always is. I’ll remember the atmosphere. It was just an awesome night.”
New York Yankees designated hitter Ben Rice (22) is greeted by Trent Grisham (12) after scoring on a grand slam in the eighth inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
What threatened to be the Yankees’ kryptonite coming into the series — the Red Sox’s parade of lefty arms — proved to be their offensive key to Game 1. Their left-handed hitters (Rice, Cody Bellinger, Spencer Jones and Austin Wells) went 7-for-13 against three Red Sox lefties, including starter Payton Tolle, who lasted just 4 ²/₃ innings.
Making matters worse for the Red Sox was the fact that they lost one of their best hitters, Roman Anthony, to a recurrence of his hand injury in the middle of Game 1 that threatens his availability the rest of the series.
Schlittler came out firing, striking out three in the top of the first inning — two on his curveball, foreshadowing how important it would be for him on the way to a career-high 24 whiffs — on a night when he lowered his career ERA to 0.47 in six starts against the Red Sox.
The bottom of the Yankees’ lineup started the scoring in the second inning, which George Lombard Jr. led off with a single — becoming the youngest player (21 years, 119 days) in franchise history to record a hit in his playoff debut — before Volpe roped a one-out single of his own.
New York Yankees pitcher Paul Blackburn reacts after ending the seventh inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostThe New York Yankees celebrate after the final out of the ninth inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Then with two outs, Wells lined a left-on-left single through the right side for the 1-0 lead.
Rice, who crushed 41 home runs during the regular season but cooled off some during the summer months when Judge was out with a broken rib, greeted lefty reliever Erik Miller in the fifth inning with a solo blast into Monument Park to double the lead.
Paul Blackburn relieved Schlittler in the seventh inning and rolled a double play ball to erase the inherited runner. But from there, the Yankees added on against the Red Sox bullpen, scoring twice against lefty reliever Alec Gamboa before Rice blew it open in the eighth, a fitting exclamation point on a night that belonged to him and Schlittler.
“Pretty remarkable,” manager Aaron Boone said. “For them to go out and have that kind of night together to start this postseason, pretty amazing and kind of hard to grasp a little bit, frankly. But I’m certainly glad we have those two.”
Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony (19) is introduced before game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026.
Roman Anthony was unexpectedly lifted for pinch hitter Andruw Monasterio in the top of the sixth inning after striking out in his first two plate appearances in Boston’s 9-0 loss in Game 1 of the wild-card series against the Yankees.
Tracy added that it was “hard to say” whether Anthony would play in Wednesday’s Game 2 or not.
Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony (19) is introduced before game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Anthony was seen flexing his right wrist in the dugout after his first-inning strikeout but stayed in for another plate appearance before he was removed.
“That’s not a good sign,” ex-Red Sox infielder Lou Merloni said during the NBC broadcast.
Merloni referred to an at-bat in Boston’s regular-season finale on Sunday against the Cubs in which Anthony appeared to experience discomfort in his right hand.
This was Anthony’s last swing on Sunday. Check swing, immediately flexes hand. pic.twitter.com/RAXErsNhDV
“There was a check swing [in Sunday’s game], where we weren’t sure what we were seeing,” Merloni added. “It looked like he was shaking it out a little bit. Obviously, [he] hasn’t been right and there’s something going on with it.”
The 22-year-old missed 107 games after sustaining an injury, which was initially reported as a wrist issue but later called a ring finger ailment, and experiencing a myriad of setbacks during his rehab.
In 55 games this season, Anthony hit .245/.339/.396 with just five homers and 15 RBIs.
It was not the type of season either side envisioned after Boston inked Anthony, considered one of baseball’s top prospects, to a historic $130 million deal shortly after his MLB debut.
HOUSTON — In Tuesday’s Game 1 of the American League wild-card series, Chicago White Sox rookie left hander Hagen Smith found himself in uncharted territory: making his first postseason start and facing the reigning AL batting title winner.
He didn’t blink.
Smith spun three scoreless innings and helped the White Sox deliver a deluxe version of a bullpen game in a 6-3 win over the Houston Astros at Daikin Park, putting Chicago on the precipice of advancing to the AL Division Series for the first time since 2021.
“It was awesome,” Smith told USA TODAY Sports. “From the first day out here, the guys on the team have just been awesome. It’s super fun to show up every day and just play with them, so I was really happy to go out there with them.”
Facing a Houston lineup known for its power, Smith surrendered two hits, singles to Isaac Paredes and Cam Smith, and stifled one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball. AL MVP candidate Yordan Alvarez went 0-for-2 with two groundouts against Smith.
“He's a great hitter,” Smith said of Alvarez after the game. “Obviously, when you look at the scouting reports you kind of circle him as one of the guys that you try not to let him beat you. And, yeah, just trying to go to go out there and do the same thing I always do. Just not make the moment too big for that certain hitter, and just try to attack him with my strengths.”
After Smith’s start, the White Sox used three relievers – Jordan Hicks, Sean Newcomb and David Sandlin – as a bridge to closer Grant Taylor. Taylor secured seven laborious outs, the biggest among them when he stifled a Houston rally in the eighth inning by striking out Yainer Diaz, who represented the potential tying run with two on base and two outs.
On the other side, the Astros used eight pitchers in total after rookie opener AJ Blubaugh walked three of the five batters he faced and didn’t even get out of the first inning. Bryan King gave up two runs on four hits while finishing the first inning. Miguel Ullola briefly stabilized the home team but couldn’t stop the bleeding as the White Sox hit .324 with four walks. The crowd in Houston, accustomed to postseason dominance, booed Astros pitchers on multiple occasions.
White Sox manager Will Venable said Smith’s outing “couldn't have gone better” for the visitors, who head into Wednesday’s Game 2 with a chance to avenge an ALDS loss to the Astros from five years ago.
Smith, a former collegiate starter, was primed for the moment.
The University of Arkansas product was drafted fifth overall by the White Sox in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft and made his major-league debut out of the bullpen on Aug. 9 of this year. Since then, the White Sox have mostly utilized him as a middle reliever capable of covering multiple innings.
Smith went 3-3 with a 1.29 ERA in 28 innings pitched this season, the lowest ERA by a White Sox pitcher over his first 18 career outings since 1912.
Although Smith changed elements of his routine when he became a reliever, he said he prides himself on “being able to go out there ready to roll” and said his familiarity with starting helped him prepare to be the White Sox opener against the Astros.
After the game, Smith stopped in a back hallway and greeted a half dozen family members, many of them wearing his White Sox jersey.
Smith grew up as a Texas Rangers fan in the eastern Texas town of Bullard, about a two-hour drive from Dallas and three hours from Houston. The Rangers and Astros were both potential wild-card opponents for the White Sox, but Smith said he didn’t have a preference for one matchup over the other.
Before Tuesday, Smith had started just one other game in his big-league career and had never faced the Astros. He pitched three innings for just the second time in his young career and threw 28 of his 38 pitches for strikes. Smith leaned heavily on his slider and cutter, two pitches that generated a 33% whiff rate against the Astros.
“The newness is always kind of tough, right?” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “Kind of cross-fire, tough angle. His pitches do have some kind of difficult shape that keeps you off balance. He did a nice job of doing that. Once we got into the middle of the game, I thought we were more familiar with those guys, we’d seen ‘em before and that's when our offense started clicking a little bit. But not enough just to get it to that finish line.”
Smith, 23, is emblematic of a young White Sox roster with barely any postseason experience. Although the team’s run to its first postseason in five years has been characterized as improbable, those inside the clubhouse say they always believed it was possible.
“I think just all the guys in the clubhouse, you see the team play – we play super hard and play with our hearts,” Smith said. “I think it’s just very contagious for everybody and everybody wants each other to win. I think that’s a big part of it.”
The White Sox receive a blessing from Pope Leo before the MLB playoffs.
You could say the White Sox holy rolled the Astros in Game 1 of the American League wild-card series, taking advantage of the divine intervention that one of the club’s biggest fans sent their way before the game.
Pope Leo XIV sent a letter of support to the White Sox, which the team shared on social media hours before the American League Chicago team went on to defeat Houston 6-3 at Daikin Park on Tuesday
Pope Leo XIV celebrates Holy Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Stephen on Sept. 28, 2026, in Metz, France. The mass is part of the papal apostolic journey to France. Grzegorz Galazka/SIPA/Shutterstock
“As I have noted, sport can truly become a school of life, where all can learn that abundance does not come from victory at any cost, but from sharing, from respecting others and from the joy of walking together,” the first American Pope wrote to White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.
Then known as Father Bob, the Pope attended the White Sox’s World Series opener in 2005 when they played the Astros, sitting in section 140, Row 19, Seat 2 to watch as the White Sox won 5-3.
It’s the White Sox first postseason appearance since 2021 and followed three consecutive 100-loss seasons
The White Sox receive a blessing from Pope Leo before the MLB playoffs. X / @whitesox
“In this spirit, it is my hope that the White Sox will continue to foster bonds of friendship and solidarity among people, and thus bear hopeful witness to the possibility of living and working together in peace,” the Pope’s letter, dated Sept. 5, continued. “With these sentiments, I willingly invoke the Almighty’s abundant blessings upon you and your loved ones.”
The letter was sent to the White Sox in response to the team’s promotion on Aug. 11, when fans at that game received Pope hats with the team’s logo.
One was delivered to Pope Leo by Chicago native Father Tom McCarthy in August.
Braden Montgomery (24) celebrates with teammates after the White Sox’s 6-3 win over the Astros in Game 1 of their American League Wild Card Series on Sept. 9, 2026 at Daikin Park in Houston. Getty Images
Pope Leo was likely very happy with the result on Tuesday as his beloved White Sox moved one step closer to advancing, with Colson Montgomery hitting a solo home run and Sam Antonacci driving in a pair of runs in the Game 1 victory.
Kyle Tucker watches his home run clear the fence against the San Francisco Giants earlier this month. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker has never shied away from just how bad his performance at the plate was for much of his first season in Los Angeles.
For the first five months of the season, when he’d show brief glimpses of progress before sinking back into an extended slump, Tucker’s .683 OPS was the third-worst among Dodgers hitters with at least 100 plate appearances, better than only Hyeseong Kim and Kyle Freeland, who both spent time in triple A.
In September, however, he found a sustainable adjustment. He fixed his bat path, extending through the ball more consistently instead of pulling off of it. He posted a .889 OPS in September, on par with his four straight All-Star seasons before signing with the Dodgers.
Now, all of a sudden, he looks like a potential difference-maker in the postseason.
“The last month or so is more or less what I expect out of myself,” Tucker said in a recent conversation with The Times. “The biggest thing is we have an opportunity now being in the playoffs to win another World Series. Once the playoffs start, you can forget about any stats or personal numbers. The only one that really matters is the win column. So that’s just what I’m gonna try and contribute towards.”
The Dodgers offense had a lot of success stories like Tucker’s in the final month of the regular season. He helped carry the offense, along with Teoscar Hernández and Mookie Betts, who turned around their seasons down the stretch, and Will Smith, who returned from the IL and quickly found his home run swing.
The Dodgers’ starting rotation is their biggest strength going into the postseason. But the offense’s performance against elite pitching, and the bullpen’s execution in tight games, could make or break a series.
Here’s how some other key players are trending going into the postseason:
Designated hitter Shohei Ohtani: Fortunate to have the bye
Shohei Ohtani appears on the right track for a successful postseason. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Ohtani returned from the IL with five games left in the season, and he went five for 21 with one extra-base hit.
All indications from general manager Brandon Gomes and manager Dave Roberts in video conference calls before the Dodgers’ closed workout Tuesday were that Ohtani was feeling good physically.
“I feel confident that you’re going to see the best version of Shohei of the last two months,” Roberts said. “I know that’s sort of a low bar given his injury, but I do think that he’s as healthy as he’s been in quite some time, and every day from the training staff, it keeps getting better. So, number one, he’ll be a threat being in the lineup, but I do think that the performance piece will be what we’re hoping for.”
First baseman Freddie Freeman: Ice cold
Freddie Freeman did not hit well in September. (Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)
Freeman, who pushed through a bout with tendinitis in his right knee earlier this month, hit just .184 in September and went 0-for-7 in his last two games.
On Tuesday, Freeman said he had no pain in his knee. But finally acknowledged that the injury could have affected his swing mechanics, while again emphasizing that he wouldn’t use that as an excuse.
Freeman has a plan for the bye week that he hopes will set him in the right direction for the playoffs.
“I’m going to hit on the field every day,” he said Sunday. “I already know how my Tuesday is going to go. There’s going to be a lot of blocked balls to left [field], a lot of flares into left. I’m hoping as Tuesday goes Wednesday, I’ll come back and those will be put down a little more. Thursday they’ll be moved over to shortstop and by Friday I will be feeling good. That is how my head is thinking right now.”
Center fielder Andy Pages: Out of the gate running
It was hard to predict how the center fielder would look at the plate when he returned from a fracture in his left hand. He recorded a 1.181 OPS in six games and homered twice in the final regular-season series against the San Francisco Giants.
“He went into last October really scuffling, and it sort of bled into October,” Roberts said over the weekend. “Where, I think right now he feels really confident, swinging the bat well, and the hope is that this one bleeds into October as well.”
Reliever Edgardo Henriquez: Healthy
Henriquez is “trending really well” after throwing live batting practice, Gomes said. If this week continues to go smoothly, the flame-throwing right-hander is expected to be on the NLDS roster.
“Given the body of work, what he’s done, the unique skill set,” Roberts said, “could be huge for us — will be huge for us.”
Reliever Edwin Díaz: Strong finish
Díaz made five appearances after his latest return from the IL (neck). He gave up just one hit in those games, with a 52.9% strikeout rate.
“I don’t know if we could have asked much more out of Edwin,” Gomes said. “Felt like each outing was more and more sharp and looking more like himself. So feel that he’s in a great place right now. Stuff out of hand is as good as it’s been all year. And we know that he has pitched in the hottest of hot games in the past and in any role, especially in the postseason. So he’s looked great, and glad that he’s in the position that he’s in and was able to bounce back after the IL stint.”
NLDS weather: Sweltering
Los Angeles’ weather forecast for this weekend, when the Dodgers are set to host the first two games of the NLDS, shows temperatures reaching the high 90s. The Dodgers are scheduled to play Game 2 at 5 p.m. on Sunday. But Saturday’s game time will depend on the results of the wild-card round. First pitch for Game 1 could be at 1 p.m. or 6 p.m.
Athletics third baseman Zack Gelof has sued the Detroit Tigers over an injury he sustained during a 4-1 loss on July 9 at Comerica Park, according to a Sept. 28 court document filed with the Wayne County (Michigan) Circuit Court.
In addition to the Tigers, Ilitch Holdings Inc. and the Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority were also named as defendants.
Gelof, 26, was playing left field July 9 when Tigers outfielder Zach McKinstry hit a fly ball into foul territory in the bottom of the third inning. Gelof made a sliding catch to get McKinstry out, running his legs into the stands in a section covered by fencing. After the play, the A's infielder was clearly in pain, holding onto his knee.
A's outfielder Zack Gelof is suing the Detroit Tigers because he missed games in July and August after injuring his knee sliding into a metal fence pic.twitter.com/h35jDfz23h
Gelof's right knee struck an "exposed, dangerous metal-fence on the side wall that protruded into or alongside the playing area" that tore through his uniform and caused a laceration in his kneecap that narrowly missed a patellar tendon, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit says Gelof immediately felt significant pain and did not play the rest of the game. He was placed on the A's 30-day injured list following the collision.
"(The Tigers) knew or should have known that professional baseball players routinely run and slide at high speeds into foul territory while attempting to catch baseballs," the lawsuit says. "Padding and protective measures in an MLB ballpark exist for a reason."
"We are aware of the lawsuit and do not comment on pending litigation," the Tigers said in a statement Tuesday, Sept. 29.
The lawsuit described the fence as "exposed" and "rigid" with "sharp metal components capable of causing serious injury." The lawsuit also alleges that there was "insufficient padding or other protective material covering the fencing" and "inadequate clearance or runoff space between the playing area and the fencing."
Tigers left fielder Riley Greene "acknowledged to reporters that the specific area along that wall is made of metal and can be quite unforgiving during a hard slide," the court documents said.
Well, it appears the Cubs summoned Ghostbusters star Bill Murray to Petco Park Tuesday for Game 1 of the National League wild-card series against the Padres. Murray was spotted in the crowd as a sea of yellow dominated the seats in San Diego.
Actor Bill Murray at Citi Field for a game between the Mets and Cubs in 2024. Noah K. Murray-NY Post
Murray is a lifelong Chicago fan and has famously said he was “baptized a Cubs fan” since birth. At Wrigley Field, he is a regularly attendee and has been seen signing during the seventh-inning stretch and celebrating wtih the team.
Murray celebrated the team’s historic 2016 World Series championship, where he even joined the players in the locker room with champagne. The legendary actor even traveled to Japan for last year’s season opening series at the Tokyo Dome between the Cubs and Dodgers.
Fans cheer before Game 1 of the wild card round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs between Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres at Petco Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectGeneral view before Game 1 of the wild card round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs between Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
On Tuesday, Murray was locked in for the wild-card series. He likely wasn’t very happy with how the first inning panned out for Chicago as Padres ace Michael King had an impressive 1-2-3 inning and Fernando Tatis Jr. proceeded to homer on the first pitch off Matthew Boyd in the bottom half of the frame.
Regardless of the outcome, Tuesday’s playoff atmosphere was electric in San Diego as fireworks flew before first pitch and the crowd was already raucous before the game began.
Boyd threw an 83-mph changeup and to get things going Fernando Tatis Jr. smacked a leadoff home run, 405-feet across center field to give the Padres a 1-0 lead.
But San Diego wasn't done. Another one of their sluggers stepped up shortly after Tatis.
Manny Machado, whether you love him or hate him, is that dude and a home run threat at the plate. He lived up to that reputation in the bottom first inning taking Boyd's 81-mph changeup 391 feet for a solo home run.
The Padres led 2-0 after the first inning in Game 1 of the NL wild card series. The winner takes advantage and moves one game closer to advancing to the NL Division Series against face the MLB-best Milwaukee Brewers.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 29: Roman Anthony #19 of the Boston Red Sox walks through the clubhouse prior to Game One of the American League Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees on September 29, 2026 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What’s the worst thing you would have imagined popping up on tonight’s MLB Gameday feed before the game started? Jarren Duran pops out to foul territory, caught by Marlins Man would be pretty bad. I wouldn’t want to see On-field injury delay, Payton Tolle overly aggressive hug either.
But I don’t think I would have imagined anything worse than this:
Yes. Andruw Monasterio — the last man on the Red Sox bench, the man who has just 2 hits in his last 32 at-bats, the man who many fans would have preferred be passed over on the roster in favor of Braiden Ward, who has never played in a Major League game in his life — pinch-hit for Roman Anthony. In the sixth inning.
The Red Sox have not yet said anything about Anthony’s injury status. But we don’t really need them to, do we? Anthony’s career, young though it may be, has been defined by two things: (1) Precocious brilliance at the plate, (2) A gut-wrenching inability to stay on the field. Anthony struggled with a bizarrely stubborn hand injury for most of the season. He returned to put up an OPS just a tick under .800 over the last few weeks, but appeared to still be battling the injury as of Game 162:
This was Anthony’s last swing on Sunday. Check swing, immediately flexes hand. pic.twitter.com/RAXErsNhDV
His first two plate appearances against Cam Schlittler tonight both ended in awkward check-swing strikeouts. He may not get another one in this series.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 28: A detailed view of signage on the field before National League Wild Card Series workouts by the San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs at Petco Park on September 28, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s a late night in San Diego as the Padres host the Chicago Cubs in game 1 of the NL Wild Card series. According to MLB.com, LHP Matthew Boyd will start for the Cubs while the Padres will send RHP Michael King to the mound. First pitch scheduled for 9pm central time at Petco Park and the game broadcast for the Wild Card rounds will be handled by NBC/Peacock.
A year ago, the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs met in the National League wild-card series. What a difference a year makes.
The Padres are on almost the exact opposite trajectory now than they were in 2025: they're hitting the ball.
Fernando Tatis Jr, Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill all rebounded from slow starts to help spark a remarkable mid-season turnaround in San Diego as they finished out the year 41-18 after sitting at 50-53 entering July 24. The offense, paired with the deepest bullpen in baseball and getting guys back in the rotation from the IL, not only re-inserted themselves into the wild card conversation but shot them straight to the top of it.
The Cubs won the regular-season series 5-1, but their last matchup was on July 1, weeks before the Padres got it together. Now, they'll have a chance to redeem themselves against a Cubs team that eliminated them at Wrigley Field last October – and this time, it'll be at home in Petco Park.
Here are three factors that will decide the NL wild card series between the Padres and Cubs:
The Padres offense needs to stay hot
In last year's wild-card meeting, the Friars slumped over the final month of the season before bowing out quietly in three games at Wrigley Field. This time around, no team in baseball has been hotter. The Padres sat three games below .500 entering July 24; since then, they finished the season 41-18 as the core of their lineup – Fernando Tatis Jr, Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill – all found their rhythm. Tatis, who didn't break through for his first home run of 2026 until May 30, finished the season with 25 deep balls and a .828 OPS. Sixteen of those home runs came over the last two months of the season as he slashed .296/.365/.613. Simply put, he started hitting like Fernando Tatis Jr. again.
That's the version of himself that will need to show up in this series.
Kevin Gausman's availability for the Cubs
Gausman injured his non-throwing shoulder on a diving tag at first base last Wednesday against the Miami Marlins. He threw a bullpen session on the final day of the regular season and is reportedly being monitored to see if he can pitch in either Game 2 or 3. Getting the 35-year-old right hander on the mound would be huge for the North Siders, who acquired him at the trade deadline with the expectation of what he brings in October.
Gausman was one of the key pieces of the Toronto Blue Jays' historic run to the World Series in 2025, carrying a 2.93 ERA and 0.91 WHIP with 26 strikeouts to just 11 walks across 30.2 innings in six outings. In Game 2 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he matched Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitch-for-pitch and retired 17 consecutive batters – second-most in Blue Jays postseason history – until giving up homers to Will Smith and Max Muncy in the seventh inning.
"Oh, man, Kev was really good," Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters at the time. "... They both had low pitch counts. It was kind of a classic pitchers' duel and they made a couple more swings."
How much length can the Padres get from their rotation?
The Padres have the deepest bullpen in baseball. If they can get to Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller with a lead, they can very well pencil in a win at this point. The rotation, however, has been a different story due to injuries. Michael King has been the steady presence as their ace all season and if he can give length in Game 1 to let his relievers get a bit of a reprieve ahead of Games 2 and 3, it could make all the difference.
Houston Astros Bryan King (74) reacts after hitting Los Angeles Angels Wade Meckler to a pitch during the fifth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. (Photo by Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
Just like that, the Astros are on the brink of elimination. White Sox 6. Astros 3.
What unfolded over the course of a late afternoon affair was a glaring contrast between the clubs going well beyond the final box score. Chicago’s core nucleus of young talent might be eventually as good as what Houston had back in 2015. The similarities of emerging from the doldrums are striking.
Munetaka Murakami brought in the game’s first run with an RBI Sac Fly, scoring Sam Antonacci. The Sox would increase their lead the following frame against Bryan King. Montgomery and Meidroth reached on singles and then Colston Montgomery was hit, loading the bases. Sam Antonacci once again produced, this time punching out a 2 run RBI single, making it 3-0. King faced 5 batters, allowed 4 hits and a HBP. The only reason there wasn’t more damage was due to a pair of K’s from Miguel Ullola who electrified the crowd with his velocity.
All told on the day, Houston would run through 8 different pitchers. AJ Blubaugh in a starting role was wild throughout the opening stages, administering three walks. He threw 27 pitches and recorded just 2 outs. Not exactly the result Brent Strom was looking for when lured out of retirement a month ago.
In the 4th, Colton Montgomery still smarting from the earlier HBP, launched a solo blast to center field making it 4-0 and you could feel the air and anticipation leave the ballpark. That would remain the score until the fifth when Chase Meidroth brought home Murakami.
Houston finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Nelson Velazquez homered to left, bringing home Lucas Spence. Chicago grabbed one of those runs back curtesy of a wild pitch.
In the bottom of the 8th, the Astros flirted with a comeback. Pena and Alvarez each singled and then Altuve reached on an error which was compounded by Murakami’s adventures in the outfield. That made it 6-3 and that would be your final.
Game Notes:
Oft he previous 12 Wild Card matchups, 11 of the 12 teams to win game 1 of the series have won the series.
To Freddie Freeman, two years ago was “100 times worse.”
And if he could find his swing then, he is confident of doing so again now.
Freeman’s 2024 postseason, of course, has become club legend at this point. How he played through ankle and rib injuries. How he slumped through the first couple rounds in his severely diminished state. And how, after a week off before that year’s Fall Classic, he tweaked his swing and produced one of the most memorable performances in World Series history — highlighted by his iconic walk-off grand slam in extra innings of Game 1 at Dodger Stadium.
This time, Freeman thinks a similar turnaround could be much more simple, despite battling another physical ailment down the stretch this regular season with patellar tendonitis in his right knee.
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) hits a single during the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Friday, September 25, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectDodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman hits walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series, after playing through knee and rib injuries earlier that postseason. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“I truly feel good right now, physically,” Freeman said on Tuesday, during a video conference with reporters ahead of the Dodgers’ first pre-National League Division Series bye week workout. “So it’s on me now to figure out the mechanics of the swing in the next five days. And I have all the confidence in myself that I will figure that out by [Game 1 on] Saturday.”
At the start of September, Freeman looked to be on the right track.
But it nonetheless triggered a slump that put Freeman’s postseason productivity into question, making him perhaps the club’s biggest question mark after a similarly banged-up Shohei Ohtani.
“[The injury is] affecting him,” manager Dave Roberts said last week. “So how can he sort of navigate being compromised?”
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman looks on from the dugout during the second inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. Getty Images
For much of September, Freeman struggled to find an answer.
On Sept. 2, he snapped his long-ball drought in a two-hit performance that raised his season-high average to .306 and his OPS to .850. After that, he spiraled into a three-week slump for the remainder of the regular season, going 12-for-72 (.167) over his final 18 games.
His final full-season numbers: a .288 average (his second-lowest mark since 2015), a .792 OPS (the lowest of his career excluding his 20-game cameo as a rookie in 2010) and just 16 home runs (another career low for a full-length season).
The one thing he did not do, however, was put the blame entirely on his latest physical problem.
“I’m not going to make an excuse. I will never blame my knee,” he insisted after Sunday’s regular-season finale. “I didn’t play very well, and that’s just how it is. It’s on me now in the next five days to figure out my swing and be prepared for Saturday.”
By Tuesday, Freeman sounded optimistic about that mission.
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman hits a single in the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants, Sunday, September 20, 2026, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
He reiterated that “my body feels good” and maintained his stance that “I just didn’t play well the last couple months of the season.”
“Did I have some ailments in my knees? Yes, I did,” he said. “I don’t know how much that attributed to subconsciously trying to do stuff where it didn’t hurt as much … so maybe I created bad habits. But I won’t blame it on that. I just played bad. My knee is in a good spot now. That’s why the bye week is huge.”
Indeed, Freeman has a specific plan for the next couple days — not only in how many swings he will take (which could be upward of 400 between the batting cages, on-field batting practice and live BP sessions, he said) but also in how he will go about recalibrating his mechanics.
“I’m gonna try what I used in the World Series in ’24,” Freeman said, referencing a “step-out” mental cue that impacts how he plants his front foot and is intended to prevent him from cutting his swing across the plate.
“That’s the thought going in today, and I’m very confident that that’s gonna help get things back in line throughout the course of the week.”
It certainly worked two years ago, when a clearly hampered Freeman went 7-for-32 before the Fall Classic, then emerged from his off-week reset by going 6-for-20 with four home runs in the World Series to earn MVP honors.
The Dodger Stadium crowd reacts as Freddie Freeman hits a walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series. JASON SZENES/NEW YORK POSTFreddie Freeman celebrates with his Dodgers teammates after his walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
And the fact that Freeman already claims to feel significantly better physically has fueled optimism around the team that the worst of his struggles are behind him.
“I think that it is a mechanical thing with Freddie,” Roberts said, “and I do think that having five days to work through it gets him back to close to 100% — which I think he will be.”
The Dodgers could obviously use that version of the 10-time All-Star. If he and Ohtani (who the Dodgers also continue to insist is improving from his right arm and left knee injuries) are struggling at the top of their lineup, it could scuttle the team’s recently resurgent offense.
“Personally, it’s huge for me that I got five days to really work on mechanics,” Freeman said.
It paid off two Octobers ago. He’s counting on a similar rebound this year.
New York Yankees left fielder Heliot Ramos (34) cannot field an RBI double by Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Jonny DeLuca (21) during the fourth inning of a game at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y., Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026.
Manager Aaron Boone said Aaron Judge was “not quite ready,” which meant Heliot Ramos had to be.
Essentially stepping into the cleats of the 6-foot-7 superstar, who was held off the wild-card roster with a calf strain, was a 5-foot-11 trade-deadline pickup who was brought in to crush lefties and had done just that after a rough first few weeks to his Yankees tenure.
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Before the game, Ramos acknowledged that he cannot properly fill in for probably the best hitter on earth. And so he wasn’t going to try.
“At the end of the day, I’m me,” Ramos said, “and I know I’m ready for it, and I’m ready to go.”
There probably is not a Yankees player more upset to be unable to play than Judge.
New York Yankees left fielder Heliot Ramos (34) cannot field an RBI double by Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Jonny DeLuca (21) during the fourth inning of a game at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y., Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post
There might not be a Yankees player more grateful to be playing playoff baseball than Ramos, who spent his first 4 ¹/₂ seasons with the Giants, never reaching October, and was thrilled to land with a team so popular in his home of Puerto Rico.
“Who would have thought I would have been here right now?” Ramos said. “It’s crazy that this is happening to me. It’s a blessing. A lot of guys take trades like to heart, kind of like in a bad way.
“But to me, obviously, it was a little bit of a change. But at the end of the day, the New York Yankees want me and I’m here to help. Honestly, I’m loving the experience. I’m loving where I’m at right now.”
The Yankees targeted Ramos not to replace Judge but to add a platoon bat with a strong track record of hitting lefty pitching. Among hitters with at least 100 plate appearances this season, Ramos’ .907 OPS against southpaws was the 23rd best in baseball (one spot behind Junior Caminero).
He did not start well with the Yankees, possibly because he was often facing righty pitching and playing every day with Judge sidelined (then because of his rib), but Ramos asserted himself once he saw lefties beginning at the end of August — and beginning when the Red Sox came to town.
In that series, Ramos launched his first Yankees homer (against Ranger Suarez) and reached base eight times in 12 plate appearances.
“When I faced Suarez and I took my first at-bat and it was a walk, I felt pretty good about it,” Ramos said about his Yankees turning point, which helped him earn trust that paid off Tuesday in starting the biggest game of his life. “I was, like, yeah, this is my time. I’m ready to go.”
