Rookie Masterpieces and Rivalry Lore: Yankees and Cubs Advance in Thrilling Wild Card Deciders

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October 2nd proved to be a fitting capstone to the dramatic MLB Wild Card Series, featuring three winner-take-all Game 3s that saw two historic rivals battle for the right to move on, and a homegrown hero lift his team to a dramatic victory.

The day belonged to a pair of clutch home teams and the unexpected brilliance of two rookie pitchers who etched their names into postseason lore. When the final outs were recorded, the New York Yankees and the Chicago Cubs punched their tickets to the Division Series, while the Detroit Tigers completed a remarkable comeback story.

Yankees 4, Red Sox 0: A Star is Born in the Bronx

The storied rivalry between the Yankees and the Red Sox added a spectacular new chapter, and the protagonist was a player few outside of New York knew until last night: rookie right-hander Cam Schlittler.

In what Yankees manager Aaron Boone later called a “star is born” performance, the 24-year-old making just his 15th major league start dominated his childhood team, the Boston Red Sox, to lead the Yankees to a 4-0 victory and an ALDS berth against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Schlittler’s Gem: Schlittler tossed eight shutout innings, striking out a staggering 12 batters while issuing zero walks. He became the first pitcher in postseason history to throw at least eight scoreless innings with 12+ strikeouts and no walks.
The Decisive Inning: The Yankees broke the scoreless tie with a four-run rally in the bottom of the fourth, though it was aided by a Red Sox defensive miscue. After a bloop double by Cody Bellinger and a walk to Giancarlo Stanton, Amed Rosario and Anthony Volpe delivered RBI singles. The final two runs scored on an error by Red Sox first baseman Nathaniel Lowe.
Highlight Reel Defense: Third baseman Ryan McMahon provided the defensive play of the night—and perhaps the postseason so far—in the eighth, running down a foul pop-up and flipping head-over-heels into the Boston dugout to secure the out for the rolling Schlittler.

The Yankees became the first team since the expanded Wild Card format began in 2022 to drop the opener of a best-of-three and come back to win the series.

Cubs 3, Padres 1: Clutch Hits and Dominant Defense Clinch NLDS Spot

At a raucous Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs shut down a powerful San Diego Padres offense with a combination of timely hitting and rock-solid defense to win Game 3, 3-1. The victory advances the Cubs to a compelling NL Division Series matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers, led by former Chicago manager Craig Counsell.

Rookie Contributes: Outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong shook off a rough series start by collecting an RBI single in the pivotal second inning, part of a three-hit night for the young spark plug.
Pitching by Committee: Manager Counsell employed a bullpen game after starter Jameson Taillon delivered four shutout innings. Daniel Palencia, who earned his second win of the series, escaped a fifth-inning jam, and closer Andrew Kittredge recorded the final two outs after an emotional ninth.
Padres Star Struggles: Padres ace Yu Darvish struggled against his former team, exiting after just 1.1 innings. Meanwhile, San Diego’s offensive stars were neutralized, as Fernando Tatis Jr. went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

Tigers 6, Guardians 3: Home-Grown Hero Leads Detroit’s Rally

In a Game 3 that felt like a microcosm of their heated AL Central race, the Detroit Tigers vanquished the Cleveland Guardians on the road, 6-3, to complete their own series comeback.

The Go-Ahead Bomb: Catcher Dillon Dingler, who grew up rooting for the Guardians in Ohio, played the villain by smashing a go-ahead solo home run in the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie. Dingler also threw out a base-stealer in a crucial moment, showcasing a complete effort behind the plate.
Seventh Inning Breakout: The Tigers blew the game open in the seventh with a four-run rally that included a massive two-run single from Wenceel Pérez, who had been mired in a deep slump but came through when the season was on the line.

The Tigers will now head to the West Coast to face the Seattle Mariners in the American League Division Series.

With the Wild Card round now complete, the stage is set for the Division Series, which kicks off this weekend with a slate of games featuring the league’s top seeds joining the October fray.