MLB postseason has arrived.
The Wild Card 4 series began on Tuesday after a thrilling final day of the regular season in which the Braves and Mets both clinched playoff berths and put the Diamondbacks on the back foot. So far, the Tigers, Royals and Mets all have road wins, and the Padres will look to prevent a similar win against the Braves.
Mets 8, Brewers 4
In the most back-and-forth game of the day, the Brewers and Mets each took the lead twice, with the Mets coming away with an 8-4 victory in Game 1.
The deciding run came in the bottom of the 5th inning. New York, trailing 4-3, had seven consecutive batters on base and ended up scoring five runs. Mark Vientos had 2 hits for 4 at bats on the day, recording 2 RBIs and 2 RBIs, and was the first hit by an opponent.
Mets starting pitcher Luis Severino wasn’t perfect, giving up eight hits and four earned runs, but he pitched six innings for a New York team that played a doubleheader on Monday with a shot at making the postseason while the Brewers were on vacation. It was a big throw.
Royals 1, Orioles 0
It was a quick, low-scoring battle in Baltimore, but the Kansas City Royals earned their first playoff victory in nearly a decade.
The Royals narrowly defeated the Orioles 1-0 in Game 1 at Camden Yards thanks to an RBI single by Bobby Witt Jr. With this, the Royals are one step closer to winning their first playoff series since the 2015 World Series. It was also the first postseason road shutout win in Royals franchise history.
Cole Regans pitched six scoreless innings against the Royals in Baltimore, but withdrew from starting the seventh inning due to left calf cramps. The Royals finally scored for the first time in the top of the sixth inning when Witt hit an easy RBI homer to home Michael Garcia.
The Orioles came close to scoring in the eighth inning when Gunnar Henderson gave up a walk and Jordan Westberg singled to center field, but the Royals escaped unscathed. From there, the Royals immediately shut out the ninth inning to seal the victory and jump up the series 1-0.
Tigers 3, Astros 1
For the first time in 11 years, the Detroit Tigers won a playoff game, defeating the Houston Astros 3-1 and winning Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series.
Behind the great performance of Triple AL Champion Tarik Skubal (6 innings pitched, 4 hits, no runs, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts), the Tigers attacked the Astros’ pitching from the start. Framber Valdez was in trouble in the second inning, allowing a walk and four hits. Valdez was removed after only 4 1/3 innings.
But the Astros weren’t quiet either. In the fourth inning, Yordan Alvarez led off with a single, and Skubal threatened to walk Yainer Diaz. However, consecutive strikeouts from Jeremy Peรฑa and Victor Caratini wiped out the threat. In the ninth inning, Alvarez hit a leadoff double and Alex Bregman’s single put runners on first base with no outs and runners on the corners. Yainar Diaz then put the Astros ahead with an RBI single, Peรฑa advanced the runners on a sacrifice bunt, and Tigers manager AJ Hinch replaced closer Jason Foley with Beau Brisquet. The right-handed pitcher quickly got one out and was one strike away from ending the game before giving up a walk to Chas McCormick to load the bases. Jason Heyward then lined out to end the game and give the Tigers the lead in Game 1.
Here’s Tuesday’s schedule, results, and how to watch.
Live106 update
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 7:11pm PDT
Braves vs. Padres
Jesse Chavez pitches another 1-2-3 innings and the Braves relievers take care of it. Chavez and Aaron Bummer combined for 4 2/3 scoreless innings after starter AJ Smith-Shover gave up three runs early. padres lead
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 7:08pm PDT
King, Padres rolling vs. Brewers
The Padres will play Game 1 as you would expect a team of their caliber to play against a Braves team that had to travel cross country just last night after Monday’s doubleheader in Atlanta. It’s progressing smoothly.
The Mets, coming off a win in Milwaukee today, seem unfazed by the chaotic road trip, but the Braves certainly look like a team that could use another day or two to recover. That said, even a well-rested Braves batting lineup could struggle to muster much offensive power against Padres right-hander Michael King, who has been completely dominant with six scoreless frames. There are enough.
Some eyebrows were raised when Dr. King defeated Dylan Cease in Game 1, but tonight he proved San Diego has more than just one arm up front.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 7:04pm PDT
Braves vs. Padres
Added two more strikeouts to Michael King’s record. Marcell Ozuna got a strikeout, but didn’t like the decision on the ball, which was below the strike zone. Still, it’s a strikeout.
King added an inning-ending strikeout of Jorge Soler to increase his score to 10.
The Braves are still looking for their first win. The Padres led 3-0 after 5.5 innings.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 6:58pm PDT
Braves relief pitcher Jesse Chavez left the team after eight pitches. The Padres lead remained 3-0 until the fifth inning.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 6:56pm PDT
Braves vs. Padres
Aaron Bummer’s night is over. The Braves relief pitcher pitched excellently, pitching 2/3 innings without allowing a run. Jesse Chavez takes the mound for the Braves in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 6:52pm PDT
Braves vs. Padres
Handled by Michael King. The top of the 5th inning ended with a strikeout of Ozzie Albies. It was Albies’ third strikeout and eighth of the game.
The Padres led 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 6:47pm PDT
Braves vs. Padres
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Braves relief pitcher Aaron Bummer was 3 up and 3 down. The Padres led 3-0.
Since replacing starting pitcher AJ Smith-Schober in the second inning, the Bummers have pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 6:38pm PDT
Braves vs. Padres
Padres starting pitcher Michael King had two more strikeouts in a scoreless inning. Travis d’Arnaud is stuck at second base after hitting a two-out double.
After three and a half innings, the Padres led 3-0. Wang now has seven strikeouts.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 6:34pm PDT
San Diego loves the Padres:
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 18:32 PDT
Braves vs. Padres
Fernando Tatis got a walk in the bottom of the third inning to lead off the inning, but other than that, nothing much happened. The Padres led 3-0 at the end of the third inning.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 6:26pm PDT
Braves vs. Padres
The Braves scored two runs in the third inning with two outs on hits by Michael Harris and Marcell Ozuna. However, Michael King got out of trouble again with an inning-ending strikeout.
The Braves led 3-0 after the top of the third inning. The Kings allowed four hits, but they mitigated the damage with five strikeouts.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 6:17pm PDT
Braves vs. Padres
Braves relief pitcher Aaron Bummer took the mound and induced an inning-ending double play from Luis Arraez. The Padres took a 3-0 lead into the second inning thanks to a sacrifice fly scored by Jake Cronenworth.
A Braves team that played a doubleheader in Atlanta on Monday will rely on its bullpen for the remainder of the game.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 6:13pm PDT
Braves vs. Padres
AJ Smith-Shover’s night is over. The 21-year-old was placed in a tough position as the Game 1 starter in place of injured Braves ace Chris Sale. The Padres took advantage of that.
He scored two runs in the first inning, and added three points in the second inning with a runner on with one out.
Smith Shober left after pitching 1 1/3 innings, allowing four hits, one home run, and three earned runs.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 6:03pm PDT
Braves vs. Padres
Padres starting pitcher Michael King pitched two scoreless innings. With the score 3 up and 3 down, the Padres entered the bottom of the second inning with a 2-0 lead.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 5:57pm PDT
Braves vs. Padres
It’s been a tough start for 21-year-old Braves starting pitcher AJ Smith-Shover, who is out due to an injury to ace Chris Sale. In his postseason starting debut, he allowed three hits and two runs in one inning. After the first inning, the Padres led 2-0.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 5:54pm PDT
Braves vs. Padres
The Padres are already enamored with Smith-Shober. Luis Arraez led off with a single in the bottom of the first inning. Fernando Tatis then hit a deep two-run home run, the first of the 2024 postseason, to bring it home.
That’s two earned runs and zero outs for the 21-year-old Braves starting pitcher.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 5:51pm PDT
Braves vs. Padres
The Braves traveled to San Diego without ace and Triple Crown winner Chris Sale on the roster because of back spasms. After the Braves were forced to use two starting pitchers for Monday’s doubleheader against the Mets, 21-year-old AJ Smith-Shover will start Game 1 of the playoff series.
Smith-Shover has started seven total MLB games and will start just one this season.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 5:47pm PDT
Braves vs. Padres
The Braves threatened in the top of the first inning with runners on the corners with two outs thanks to singles by Michael Harris and Matt Olson. However, Michael King struck out Jorge Soler for the third time in the inning, saving the day.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 5:39 p.m. (Pacific Daylight Time)
Braves vs. Padres
Michael King takes the mound for the Padres in the top of the first inning. He finished the season with a 2.95 ERA and 201 strikeouts in 173 2/3 innings pitched.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 5:37 p.m. (Pacific Daylight Time)
Braves vs. Padres
We’re minutes away from the nightcap of a busy day of playoff baseball. A day after the Braves beat the Mets at home to clinch a postseason berth, the San Diego Padres host the Atlanta Braves.