2026 MLB wild-card series Day 2: Live updates, lineups, analysis
Who is ready for some more postseason baseball?
The Philadelphia Phillies started things off with yet another dramatic comeback win to even the series against the Atlanta Braves and force Game 3. The Chicago White Sox followed that up with a sweep of the Houston Astros to become the first wild-card team to move on to the division series. Next up: The New York Yankees knocked out their rival Boston Red Sox from the postseason with a second straight blowout win.
As for the late game, can the Chicago Cubs turn on their offense after they were shut out against the San Diego Padres ?
We've got you covered with pregame lineups, sights and sounds from the ballparks and postgame takeaways as each Day 2 matchup ends.
Key links: Mega-preview | Bracket | Schedule
Jump to: PHI-ATL | CHW-HOU | BOS-NYY | CHC-SD
We have all the best moments from the ballparks on the second day of the playoffs.
Follow live with pitch-by-pitch coverage
Sheets with a big home run to extend the lead
Nico Hoerner gets Cubs on the board
Bogaerts, Salas strike first for Pads
Ethan Salas makes history
Tatis feeding off playoff energy
New York wins series 2-0
It was over when ... Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet struck out Spencer Jones ... and didn't record an out. Pitching for the first time since late April due to left-shoulder issues, Crochet came on in relief in the sixth inning with Boston facing a 2-1 deficit. He got an atrocious swing from Jones on a sweeper in the dirt, and after the ball kicked away, Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman was slow in retrieving the ball and firing it to first base. Jones, originally called out, was deemed safe after replay, setting the stage for the biggest inning so far of the postseason. Three singles later, Crochet was out, and four batters after that, Cody Bellinger followed an intentional walk to Ben Rice with a three-run homer to cap the six-run frame. It all started with the out that wasn't -- and ended Boston's season in grim fashion. -- Jeff Passan
Stat that defined the game: To win this series, the Yankees' left-handed hitters needed to produce against left-handed pitching. The Red Sox carried five left-handed relievers -- plus left-handed starters for Games 1 and 3. The Yankees' best hitters -- with Aaron Judge left off the roster and Giancarlo Stanton limited to pinch-hitting duties -- are left-handed. It was Boston's path to victory. The strategy worked in neither contest. In Game 2, Yankees left-handed hitters went 4-for-6 against left-handed relievers Erik Miller and Garrett Crochet between the fifth and sixth innings, which set the stage for Cody Bellinger's three-run home run off right-hander Garrett Whitlock to blow the game open. Yankees left-handed hitters finished the series 11-for-22 with a 1.182 OPS against lefties. The success fueled the club's 18-run explosion. -- Jorge Castillo
Key moments from the Yankees' win:
Belli breaks it wide open!
Wells' sac fly makes it 4-1
Lombard gets the run right back
Contreras puts Boston on the board (at last)
Bellinger brings home Yanks' 2nd run
Luis Garcia Jr. goes yard
Chicago wins series 2-0
It was over when ... Chase Meidroth took Bryan Abreu deep for a back-breaking three-run blast in the sixth. This came just minutes after it looked like Houston was about to overcome Chicago's early 4-0 edge. With two on in the fifth inning and the lead down to 4-3, Anthony Kay came out of the bullpen to get Yordan Alvarez on a fly to left. After a walk to Isaac Paredes loaded the bases, Jose Altuve flied out to end the threat. After the White Sox drew two walks to start the sixth, Meidroth showed bunt on Abreu's first two offerings. Following a double steal, Meidroth went back to swing mode and launched what turned out to be a series-clinching blast. The White Sox's Cinderella ride continues into the American League Division Series.
Stat that defined the game: Alvarez managed just a lone single in eight at-bats during the brief series, a .125 average to go with some failings in high-leverage spots. He also failed to make a grab on a well-struck Sam Antonacci drive to start the game, something a more mobile left fielder might have caught. Alvarez is still great and on his way to win the AL MVP Award. But it was a rough couple of days for him in the wild-card round. -- Bradford Doolittle
Key moments from Chicago's win:
White Sox win first playoff series since 2005
Chicago breaks game open with huge three-run homer
Altuve joins the fun with Houston's third solo home run of the night
Houston answers with leadoff homer from Peña
Make that four runs in the 1st!
It was over when ... It appeared to be over when Bryce Harper misplayed Drake Baldwin 's relatively routine fly ball that turned into a generously-scored RBI single in the seventh inning to give the Braves a 2-1 lead (and they added another run). But then Kyle Schwarber and Harper hit back-to-back home runs in the eighth off Dylan Lee , who hadn't allowed a home run all season to a left-handed batter. Alec Bohm then hit the game-winning home run in the 10th off Didier Fuentes -- just Bohm's second opposite-field home run all season.
And then it was actually finally over when Andrew Painter struck out Dominic Smith with two runners on in the bottom of the 10th -- on a walk-off challenge on the third strike. The Phillies' season is alive.
Star who defined the game: The Phillies getting to Lee was the big shocker to begin with, and Bohm going to right field was also a shock, but the biggest shocker might have been Painter pitching the scoreless eighth, ninth and 10th innings for the Phillies. With Jhoan Duran having thrown 27 pitches on Tuesday and manager Don Mattingly not trusting anybody else in the bullpen -- which had the worst ERA in the majors in September -- he turned to his rookie, who had started in 23 of his 25 appearances. Gutsy call ... and it worked. -- David Schoenfield
Key moments from Phillies' win:
Bohm's blast seals Phillies' 10-inning victory
Philly evens the score with back-to-back homers
Phillies get one back via a Schwarbomb
Atlanta breaks through in 7th as Harper misplays ball in outfield
Olson drives in Acuña to even the score