In a postseason that refuses to settle, the Cleveland Guardians' run came to a abrupt end Thursday night, as Detroit Tigers clinched their series with a gritty 5-3 victory in Game 3 of the Wild Card round. The Guardians, who had forced the decider after dropping the opener, couldn't muster enough offense against a stingy Tigers bullpen. Tanner Bibee struck out seven over five innings, but Detroit's Riley Greene smashed a two-run homer in the sixth that proved decisive. Indeed, Cleveland's bats, so potent during the regular season's stretch drive, managed just eight hits total, leaving fans at Progressive Field stunned in the late innings.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Cubs kept their momentum rolling, edging the San Diego Padres 4-2 to advance to the Division Series. Seiya Suzuki's three-run blast in the fourth inning flipped the script on a tight pitcher's duel, and the Cubs' relief corps slammed the door shut. This marks Chicago's first playoff progression since 2017, a feat that injects fresh energy into a franchise long mired in rebuild mode. However, the Cubs now face a daunting path, likely squaring off against the Dodgers or Brewers in the NLDS starting Saturday.
Over in the AL, the Boston Red Sox's comeback dreams fizzled out against the New York Yankees, who swept the series with a 6-4 win in the finale. Rookie Cam Schlittler tossed 4.1 scoreless innings for New York, while Boston's Rafael Devers drove in two but couldn't overcome defensive miscues. The Red Sox, who had rallied from a 2-0 deficit earlier in the week, now head into an uncertain offseason, their wild-card hopes dashed by a rival they've battled for generations.
The updated MLB playoff bracket shows the Tigers and Yankees moving on in the AL, joining the Astros and Orioles in the Division Series mix. On the National League side, the Cubs join the Dodgers, Phillies, and Mets. Moreover, with the wild-card round wrapping up so intensely, questions linger about how these upsets reshape the road to the World Series. It's a reminder that in October baseball, no lead is safe, no team untouchable.