What a day of baseball. Whatever you think of MLB’s expanded playoff format (this particular author stands opposed to the ever-growing bracket), there’s no format that could prevent baseball from being
great, and to wit yesterday provided a full slate of exciting, potential elimination games. For the first time in the short history of the Wild Card Round, we’ll see three Game 3’s, thanks in a part to a thrilling victory from the Yankees. New York and Boston played a classic, the Yankees prevailing by the thinnest of margins and setting up a do-or-die game tonight. It’s the Yankees and Red Sox for all the marbles. It’s hard to get much better than that.
On the site today, we’ll of course have more analysis from last night’s stirring win, as Nick picks the player of the game, while I’ll analyze the small moments that helped swing the game in the Yankees’ favor. Peter will recap all the other playoff action, and in the evening, we’ll turn our attention to what is hopefully not the final game of the season. Remember, it’ll be in primetime because the Dodgers have already dispatched the Reds.
Wild Card Series Game 3 Schedule:
Cleveland Guardians vs. Detroit Tigers (Tied, 1-1)
(RHP Slade Cecconi vs. RHP Jack Flaherty)
Time: 3:08 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
Venue: Progressive Field (Cleveland, OH)
Chicago Cubs vs. San Diego Padres (Tied, 1-1)
(RHP Jameson Taillon vs. RHP Yu Darvish)
Time: 5:08 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Venue: Wrigley Field (Chicago, IL)
New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox (Tied, 1-1)
(RHP Cam Schlittler vs. LHP Connelly Early)
Time: 8:08 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Venue: Yankee Stadium (Bronx, NY)
Questions/Prompts:
1. How deep into the game will young Cam Schlittler go tonight?
2. What did you think of Alex Cora’s gambit last night, going to his bullpen with one out in the third?
