After a thrilling final day of the regular season, which saw the Braves and Mets split a doubleheader to make the playoffs and see the Diamondbacks on the outside, four wild-card series began Tuesday. So far, the Tigers, Royals and Mets have all won on the road, and the Padres will try to resist the same against the Braves.
Mets 8, Brewers 4
In the tightest game of the day, the Brewers and Mets took the lead twice, with the Mets walking away with an 8-4 Game 1 win.
The bottom of the fifth inning was decisive. Entering the frame tied 4-3, New York's seven batters hit in a straight five-run inning. Mark Vientos delivered the hit with an opposite field single, 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs on the day.
Mets starter Luis Severino wasn't perfect, allowing eight hits and four earned runs, but throwing six innings was huge for a New York team that played a doubleheader to reach the postseason on Monday, while the Brewers had the day off.
Royals 1, Orioles 0
It was a quick and low-scoring battle in Baltimore, but the Kansas City Royals claimed their first playoff win in nearly a decade.
The Royals, thanks to an RBI single by Bobby Witt Jr., won their Game 1 matchup against the Orioles 1–0 at Camden Yards. It moved the Royals one step closer to their first playoff series win since their World Series run in 2015. It was also the first regular season road shutout win in Royals franchise history.
Cole Ragans got the Royals through six scoreless innings in Baltimore, though he was pulled to start the seventh because of left calf cramps. The Royals finally scored for the first time in the top of the sixth when Witt hit a simple RBI single to bring home Michael Garcia.
The Orioles came close to scoring in the eighth, when Gunnar Henderson was walked and Jordan Westberg hit a single into center field, but the Royals escaped without damage. From there, the Royals quickly closed out the ninth inning to seal the win and take a 1-0 series lead.
Tigers 3, Astros 1
For the first time in 11 years, the Detroit Tigers won a playoff game, topping the Houston Astros 3-1 to take Game 1 of their AL wild-card series.
Behind a stellar performance from AL Triple Crown winner Tarik Skubal — 6 innings pitched, four hits and no runs allowed, one walk and six strikeouts — the Tigers pounced on the Astros' starting pitching. Framber Valdez found himself in trouble in the second, giving up a walk and four hits. Valdez exited after just 4 1/3 innings.
The Astros didn't go quietly, though. They threatened in the fourth, when Jordan Alvarez led off with a single and Schubal walked Yanar Diaz. But back-to-back strikeouts from Jeremy Pena and Victor Caratini dispatched the threat. In the ninth, Alvarez hit a leadoff double and an Alex Bregman single put runners on the corners and nobody out. Yanner Diaz then put the Astros on the board with an RBI single, Pena advanced runners on a sacrifice bunt, and Tigers manager AJ Hinch replaced closer Jason Foley with Beau Briske. Wright got a quick out and was one strike away from ending the game before Chas McCormick loaded the bases. Then Jason Heyward lined out to end it and the Tigers took Game 1.
Here's Tuesday's schedule and results and how you can watch:
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Braves-Padres
It's Aaron Baumer's night. The Braves reliever was excellent in 2 2/3 scoreless innings. Jesse Chavez took the mound for the Braves in the fifth.
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Michael King is dealing. Strike out OG Albies to end the top of the fifth. It was Albies' third strikeout and eighth of the game.
The Padres lead, 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth.
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Three up and three down Braves reliever Aaron Bama in the bottom of the fourth. Padres lead, 3-0.
Baumer has pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings since taking over for starter AJ Smith-Shaver in the second.
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Two more strikeouts in a scoreless inning for Padres starter Michael King. Travis d'Arnaud is stranded at second after a two-out double leg out.
Padres lead, 3-0 after 3 1/2 innings. King now has seven strikeouts.
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Fernando Tatis walked to lead off the bottom of the third, but otherwise an uneventful half inning. Padres lead 3-0 after three.
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Braves hit Michael Harris and Marcell Ozuna in the third. But Michael King got out of trouble again with an inning-ending strikeout.
Braves lead, 3-0 in top of third. The Kings allowed four hits but minimized the damage with five strikeouts.
Braves-Padres
Braves reliever Aaron Baumer took the mound and induced an inning-ending double play from Luis Arez. The Padres extended their lead to 3-0 through two innings thanks to a sacrifice fly that scored Jake Cronenworth.
A Braves team that plays a doubleheader in Atlanta on Monday will rely on its bullpen the rest of the way.
Braves-Padres
AJ Smith-Shaver's night is over. The 21-year-old was put in a tough spot as the Game 1 starter in place of scratched Braves ace Chris Sale. The clergy took the opportunity.
They tagged him for two runs in the first, then added a runner on third and second with one out.
Smith-Shaver went on to allow three earned runs on four hits and a home run in 1 1/3 innings pitched.
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A clean second inning for Padres starter Michael King. Three up and three down, and the Padres entered the bottom of the second leading, 2-0.
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A tough start for 21-year-old Braves starter AJ Smith-Shaver, who is pitching because of an injury to ace Chris Sale. Gave up three hits and two runs in first inning of postseason debut. Padres lead, 2-0 after one inning.
Braves-Padres
The Padres are already feasting on Smith-Shawver. Luis Arez led off the bottom of the first with a single. Then Fernando Tatis brought him home with his first two-run home run of the postseason in 2024.
That's two earned runs and zero strikeouts for the 21-year-old Braves starter.
Braves-Padres
The Braves traveled to San Diego without their ace and Triple Crown winner Chris Sale on the roster with a sore back. So 21-year-old AJ Smith-Shaver started in Game 1 of a playoff series when the Braves were forced to use two starters in Monday's double-header against the Mets.
Smith-Shaver has seven career MLB starts and has entered just one game this season.
Braves-Padres
The Braves threatened early, putting runners on the corners with two outs on singles by Michael Harris and Matt Olson. But Michael King got out of the jam, sitting down Jorge Soler for his third strikeout of the inning.
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Michael King took the mound for the Padres in the top of the first. He finished the season with a 2.95 ERA and 201 strikeouts in 173 2/3 innings pitched.
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We are minutes away from the night cap of a busy day of playoff baseball. The San Diego Padres host the Atlanta Braves, one day after the Braves clinched a spot in the postseason at home against the Mets.
NYM-MIL: Mets take Game 1
It was a big Game 1 win for the Mets, who entered Tuesday with a gassed pitching staff and were able to survive a strong start for the Brewers. Next up is Braves-Padres
NYM-MIL: Ryne Stanek to close out the game
After a scoreless Mets inning, Ryne Stanek had to finish the game
NYM-MIL: Brewers down in order to 8, still down 8-4
After five innings of nonstop offense, this game completely slowed down, much to the Brewers' detriment. They still trail 8-4 as we head into the ninth, with just one inning left
NYM-MIL: Luis Severino walks 8th batter in a row, likely after 6
He has had hiccups, but Severino delivered some innings that the Mets desperately needed after playing a doubleheader on Monday. He probably did on 105 pitches, with 8 hits, 4 ER, 2 BB and 3 K in 6 innings.
