In a whirlwind of extra-inning drama and clutch hits, the MLB Wild Card round wrapped up its decisive Game 3s on Thursday, reshaping the postseason landscape with ruthless efficiency. The Cleveland Guardians, riding high as an AL Central powerhouse, saw their dreams dashed in a 5-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field. Tarik Skubal's earlier dominance in Game 1 lingered like a shadow, as the Tigers' bullpen held firm despite a late Guardians rally that fell just short. Indeed, Cleveland's offense, which had sputtered through the series, managed only seven hits, underscoring a frustrating end to a season that promised more.
Over in the National League, the Chicago Cubs clawed their way past the San Diego Padres 4-2, sealing a series comeback that few predicted. Seiya Suzuki's two-run homer in the sixth proved the turning point, silencing a Padres lineup that had owned the early games. The Cubs, now NLCS-bound after dodging elimination twice, embody that gritty underdog spirit that's defined this playoff push. However, not all stories ended in triumph; the Boston Red Sox bowed out to the New York Yankees in a 6-4 thriller, where Aaron Judge's go-ahead blast in the eighth inning crushed Boston's faint hopes. The Yankees, forcing and then winning the decider, advance with momentum that could carry them deep.
The updated playoff bracket now funnels the Tigers into an ALDS clash with the Yankees, while the Cubs face the Dodgers in the NL. ESPN's coverage highlighted how these upsets—Detroit over Cleveland, Chicago's resilience—have injected fresh chaos into what was already a unpredictable October. Moreover, with the Dodgers having swept the Reds earlier, the path to the World Series feels wide open, even if the favorites occasionally trip.
Yet as the division series loom, one can't help but wonder if these wild-card survivors have the stamina to go the distance in this grueling tournament.