The second day of the 2024 MLB postseason was the first day of possible eliminations, thanks to the best-of-three format in the wild-card round.
The Tigers, Royals, Mets and Padres all took a huge step toward the Division Series with Game 1 wins on Tuesday, and they were looking to get an extra day’s rest ahead of the Division Series, which get started on Saturday.
The Tigers and Royals started the day with a sweep each, ending the seasons of the Astros and Orioles to advance to the ALDS. On the NL side, the Brewers became the first team to force a Game 3 in the wild-card round with a thrilling win over the Mets. The Padres then closed out the night with a third sweep, defeating the Braves.
Padres 5, Braves 4
The Padres looked like they were going to cruise to a sweep after a dominant start Wednesday, but it just wasn’t that easy.
The Padres, who put up five runs in the second on a Kyle Higashioka home run and two-RBI hits from Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill, held on down the stretch to claim a 5-4 win in Game 2 of their wild-card series. They had to fend off a late push from the Braves, who came within a run in the eighth on a two-run shot from Michael Harris, but that was as close as the Braves got.
The Padres, with the third sweep of the day, advance to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Brewers 5, Mets 3
Last year’s wild-card round consisted of four sweeps. The first two series of this year ended in sweeps (see below).
Jackson Chourio and Garrett Mitchell ensured that the Brewers didn’t meet a similar fate. Chourio hit a leadoff home run, and then, with the Brewers down 3-2 in the eighth inning, he tied the game. A few batters later, Garrett Mitchell came through with a two-run homer to put his team on top in a 5-3 win.
The Brewers and Mets will meet in a winner-take-all Game 3 on Thursday in Milwaukee.
Royals 2, Orioles 1
The Royals scored three runs total in the wild-card series and swept the Orioles.
After taking Game 1 with a 1-0 win, the Royals again showcased their impressive pitching staff in a 2-1 victory to complete a sweep in Baltimore. The scoring: singles from Vinnie Pasquantino and Bobby Witt Jr. to offset a Cedric Mullins homer.
The game was arguably decided in the fifth inning, when the Orioles got on the board with the Mullins homer, then loaded the bases with no outs against Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo. Kansas City brought in Angel Zerpa, who struck out Colton Cowser and got an Adley Rutschman groundout to keep the game tied.
The Tigers struck first, with a Parker Meadows solo home run in the sixth inning, then survived a two-run Astros comeback in the seventh and broke out in the eighth to secure the win. After a series of missteps by Ryan Pressly and Josh Hader, Andy Ibáñez played the hero for Detroit with a bases-clearing double that gave the Tigers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
The Astros’ elimination snaps their streak of seven straight ALCS appearances. The Tigers, meanwhile, have their first playoff series victory since 2013.
Here’s a look at the wild-card schedule for Wednesday’s Game 2s:
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Final: Padres 5, Braves 4
The Padres hang on to grab a one-run win and complete the sweep. The Braves, who snuck into the playoffs with their win in a doubleheader on Monday, will head home.
It’ll be Padres-Dodgers in the NLDS.
ATL-SD: Padres are 3 outs away
The Padres head to the ninth with a 5-4 lead and are just three outs away from completing the sweep and setting up an NLDS vs. the Dodgers.
ATL-SD: Here come the Braves
Well, there’s the move the Braves needed. Michael Harris opened the eighth with a deep, two-run shot. The Padres now lead 5-4.
ATL-SD: Padres 5, Braves 2
After three quick outs from Atlanta, we head to the eighth. If the Braves are going to make a move, it has to be now.
ATL-SD: Joe Musgrove out due to right elbow tightness
We have official word on Joe Musgrove’s early exit tonight.
Update from the Padres trainer’s room: Joe Musgrove left tonight’s game with right elbow tightness.
Though the Braves put two on base in the inning, Tanner Scott came in to get the Padres out of the inning without any damage. Their 5-2 lead holds as we go to the bottom of the sixth.
NYM-MIL: Brewers stave off elimination with 5-3 win
The first two wild-card series ended in sweeps. This one will not. Behind clutch home runs from Jackson Chourio and Garrett Mitchell, the Brewers tie the series 1-1 and force a Game 3 on Thursday.
NYM-MIL: The Mets threw the one pitch you’re not supposed to throw to Garrett Mitchell
Garrett Mitchell’s xSLG on four-seamers this season: .366
Sliders: .233
Sinkers: .192
Changeups: .280
Curveballs: .661
You can probably guess which pitch Mets reliever Phil Maton threw to Mitchell on that homer.
NYM-MIL: Brewers take 5-3 lead on Garrett Mitchell HR
Garrett Mitchell blows the roof off American Family Field with a two-run homer to take the lead. This is playoff baseball.
Until Jackson Chourio tonight, only one player had hit multiple home runs in a postseason game before his 21st birthday: Andruw Jones in Game 1 of the 1996 World Series.
NYM-MIL: Jackson Chourio hits 2nd HR to tie the game
Jackson Chourio is 20 year old. He has two homers tonight. The second one just tied the game 3-3.
ATL-SD: Padres 5, Braves 2
Jorge Soler just hit a deep solo shot to cut into the Padres lead in the fifth.
NYM-MIL: Brewers on the ropes
After a 1-2-3 seventh inning, the Brewers have six outs left to save their season.
ATL-SD: Padres pulling Musgrove
Joe Musgrove’s day is done. He’s leaving the game with a trainer due to an apparent elbow injury. Bryan Hoeing will replace him now in the fourth.
NYM-MIL: Brewers escape bases-loaded jam
The Mets had runners on second and third with two outs, then the bases loaded after an intentional walk of Francisco Lindor. The gamble paid off with a Joel Payamps strikeout of Jose Iglesias
NYM-MIL: Brewers get one back
The Brewers cut into the deficit there in the fifth after a sac fly from Blake Perkins. The Mets lead 3-2 now headed into the sixth.
ATL-SD: Padres 5, Braves 1
Make that two more for the Padres after a triple from Jackson Merrill that made it all the way to the center field wall. San Diego has completely broken this game open.
ATL-SD: Padres 3, Braves 1
After Higashioka’s home run, the Padres quickly loaded up the bases to set up a two RBI double from Manny Machado. That marked the fifth-straight two-out hit for San Diego.
They’re up 3-1 now in the second.
ATL-SD: Padres 1, Braves 1
Just like that, we’ve got a tie game. Kyle Higashioka drilled a solo shot over the left field wall to put the Padres on the board in the second.
