MLB playoffs underway after thrilling Wild Card Game 1s

The GIST: And just like that, the MLB playoffs are underway with yesterday’s mostly low-scoring but always high-stakes quadruple-header of Wild Card action. This opening round is best-of-three, meaning the divisional series will be set by the next time we talk. Blink and you’ll miss it.

🐯 Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal strikes out 14 in 2–1 Game 1 win: The reigning American League Cy Young winner brought out the claws yesterday, silencing a dangerous Cleveland Guardians offense on their home turf. The Guards’ ninth-inning surge came up short, but this team never quit — they’ll need to harness that same fight in today’s 1:08 p.m. ET must-win Game 2.

🐻 Back-to-back fifth-inning homers power Chicago Cubs to 3–1 victory: Right fielder Seiya Suzuki and catcher Carson Kelly both launched solo shots to take the lead, and the Cubbies never looked back against the San Diego Padres. San Diego sluggers Fernando Tatís Jr. and Manny Machado were both held hitless, so expect them to come out swinging today at 3:08 p.m. ET.

🧦 Boston Red Sox top NY Yankees 3–1 in pitcher’s duel: Lefty aces Garrett Crochet (Boston) and Max Fried (NY) both wowed, with Crochet striking out 11 and Fried holding the Sox scoreless for 6.1 innings, until Boston capitalized on the NY bullpen, putting up two runs in the seventh inning. It’s always thrilling between these bitter foes — Game 2 goes tonight at 6:08 p.m. ET.

💙 Defending champ LA Dodgers score early and often in 10–5 win: The Blue Crew blasted five (!!!) home runs and pitcher Blake Snell struck out nine as LA fended off a late comeback attempt from the underdog Cincinnati Reds. Now the Dodgers will have sharp pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound to try and close this thing out tonight at 9:08 p.m. ET.