After a dramatic opening day, the MLB postseason continued Wednesday with eight teams battling to either move forward or keep their championship hopes alive. Fans were treated to another intense day of baseball action, filled with clutch hitting, dominant pitching, and unforgettable moments.
Dodgers 8, Reds 4 – Los Angeles Advances to NLDS
The Los Angeles Dodgers wasted no time finishing their series, defeating the Cincinnati Reds once again to secure a spot in the NLDS against the Phillies.
- Mookie Betts led the way with three doubles, tying a franchise postseason record.
- Starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto looked sharp, limiting the Reds aside from two unearned first-inning runs following a Teoscar Hernández error.
- The Dodgers’ bullpen struggled in the eighth, with Emmet Sheehan and Alex Vesia combining to allow five baserunners.
- Bright spot: Rookie sensation Roki Sasaki made his postseason debut in the ninth, striking out batters with electric stuff after returning from the IL.
Despite their bullpen issues, the Dodgers’ powerful offense carried them through, though their next test against the Phillies will be much tougher.
Yankees 4, Red Sox 3 – Historic Rivalry Forces Game 3
The Yankees and Red Sox lived up to their historic rivalry with a back-and-forth contest that ended in a 4-3 Yankees win, setting up a deciding Game 3.
- Rookie Ben Rice homered on the very first postseason pitch of his career, becoming the sixth player since 2000 to do so.
- Aaron Judge added an RBI single in the fifth to extend New York’s lead.
- For Boston, Trevor Story drove in all three runs with a bases-loaded single and a solo homer.
- The decisive blow came in the eighth, when Austin Wells singled and Jazz Chisholm Jr. sprinted home to score against former Yankee Garrett Whitlock.
With starting pitchers Carlos Rodón and Brayan Bello gone early, it was the bullpens that determined the outcome.
Padres 3, Cubs 0 – San Diego Forces Decisive Game
Facing elimination, the San Diego Padres shut down the Chicago Cubs to even the series.
- Starter Dylan Cease tossed 3 2/3 innings with five strikeouts, allowing no runs.
- Manny Machado crushed a solo homer in the fifth, adding to Jackson Merrill’s sacrifice fly in the first inning.
- Mason Miller was electric in relief, striking out five straight batters and throwing the fastest postseason pitch ever recorded.
- Closer Robert Suarez locked down the four-out save.
The Cubs’ offense was lifeless, producing just four hits while cycling through six pitchers.
Guardians 6, Tigers 1 – Cleveland Stays Alive
In a low-scoring duel, the Cleveland Guardians finally broke through in the eighth inning to defeat the Detroit Tigers and push the series to a final game.
- Brayan Rocchio, the No. 9 hitter, stunned fans with a solo home run off a 99.9-mph fastball.
- That swing sparked a rally: Steven Kwan and Daniel Schneemann hit back-to-back doubles, followed by a Bo Naylor three-run homer that sealed the victory.
- Closer Cade Smith secured the win with a scoreless ninth.
The Guardians turned a tight pitchers’ duel into a late-inning explosion, ensuring an exciting Game 3 showdown.
Conclusion
The MLB Playoffs 2025 are already proving unpredictable and thrilling. The Dodgers punched their ticket to the next round, but the Yankees, Padres, and Guardians all forced decisive Game 3s. With historic rivalries, breakout rookies, and lights-out pitching performances, this October promises unforgettable baseball drama.
