Samwise MLB Newsletter
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Ben Rice’s Monster Game Powers Yankees Past Red Sox 9-0 in Wild Card Game 1
Ben Rice went 4-for-5 with two home runs and six RBIs as the New York Yankees routed the Boston Red Sox 9-0 in AL Wild Card Game 1 at Yankee Stadium on September 29. Rice hit a solo home run off Erik Miller and a grand slam off Brayan Bello, becoming the first Yankee with at least four hits and six RBIs in a postseason game while tying the franchise’s single-game postseason RBI record. Cam Schlittler was equally dominant, striking out 10 batters over 6⅓ scoreless innings. The Yankees, without injured slugger Aaron Judge, lead the best-of-three series 1-0.
Sources: CBS Sports
Tatis Homer, King’s Near No-Hitter Lead Padres Past Cubs 8-0 in Wild Card Game 1
Fernando Tatis Jr. hit the first leadoff home run in San Diego Padres playoff history and Michael King allowed just one hit over seven innings as San Diego blanked the Chicago Cubs 8-0 in NL Wild Card Game 1 at Petco Park on September 29. Manny Machado homered in the first inning and added an RBI double in the third, while Xander Bogaerts launched a 399-foot home run in the fourth inning. The Padres move one win away from the National League Division Series, leading the best-of-three Wild Card Series 1-0.
Sources: Sports Illustrated
Austin Riley’s Eighth-Inning Blast Lifts Braves Past Phillies 5-3 in Wild Card Game 1
Austin Riley delivered a three-run home run off Philadelphia closer Jhoan Duran in the eighth inning to lift the Atlanta Braves past the Phillies 5-3 in NL Wild Card Game 1 at Truist Park on September 29. Riley came to the plate with Atlanta trailing 3-2 and launched a go-ahead shot to right-center field that put the Braves ahead for good. Chris Sale set the stage with nine strikeouts over 6⅓ innings. Riley, who hit .219 with 19 home runs during the regular season, powered the Braves to a 1-0 series advantage.
White Sox Top Astros 6-3 in Wild Card Game 1 for First Playoff Win Since 2021
The Chicago White Sox beat the Houston Astros 6-3 in AL Wild Card Game 1 on September 29, earning the franchise’s first playoff win since 2021. Colson Montgomery hit a 432-foot home run to center field, and Sam Antonacci drove in two runs to build Chicago’s lead. Rookie Hagen Smith pitched three scoreless innings, allowing two hits while generating seven swings and misses, with reliever Grant Taylor recording seven additional outs. Nelson Velázquez hit a two-run homer for Houston. The White Sox became the only team in major league history to follow consecutive 100-loss seasons with a playoff berth.
Aaron Judge Left Off Yankees Wild Card Roster With Calf Injury
New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge was not included on the club’s 26-man Wild Card Series roster due to a soleus muscle strain in his right calf, the team announced on September 29. Judge sustained the injury on September 16 and has been limited to batting cage work during his recovery. Manager Aaron Boone said Judge had been making progress but acknowledged he is not quite ready to return. The injury typically requires at least three weeks to heal. The Yankees expect Judge to be available for the Division Series if they advance past Boston in the Wild Card round.
Sources: CBS Sports
All Four Home Teams Win as 2026 MLB Postseason Opens With Dominant Performances
All four home teams won their Wild Card Series Game 1 matchups on September 29, opening the 2026 MLB postseason with emphatic results. The Yankees blanked the Red Sox 9-0, the Padres shut out the Cubs 8-0, the White Sox topped the Astros 6-3, and the Braves edged the Phillies 5-3. The results set up the top four seeds in each league—the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers, who held first-round byes—to await winners in the Division Series. The Astros entered the postseason with an 81-81 record, becoming the first team to reach the playoffs without a winning record in a full 162-game season.
Sources: NBC Sports
American League — Final Standings
| Team | W | L | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| AL East | |||
| ★ Tampa Bay Rays | 98 | 64 | — |
| ★ New York Yankees | 93 | 68 | 4.5 |
| ★ Boston Red Sox | 87 | 75 | 11.0 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 77 | 85 | 21.0 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 77 | 85 | 21.0 |
| AL Central | |||
| ★ Cleveland Guardians | 85 | 77 | — |
| ★ Chicago White Sox | 84 | 78 | 1.0 |
| Detroit Tigers | 75 | 87 | 10.0 |
| Kansas City Royals | 72 | 90 | 13.0 |
| Minnesota Twins | 69 | 93 | 16.0 |
| AL West | |||
| ★ Houston Astros | 81 | 81 | — |
| Texas Rangers | 80 | 82 | 1.0 |
| Seattle Mariners | 76 | 86 | 5.0 |
| Los Angeles Angels | 71 | 91 | 10.0 |
| Athletics | 67 | 95 | 14.0 |
★ = Playoff qualifier
National League — Final Standings
| Team | W | L | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| NL East | |||
| ★ Atlanta Braves | 94 | 68 | — |
| ★ Philadelphia Phillies | 88 | 74 | 6.0 |
| New York Mets | 83 | 79 | 11.0 |
| Washington Nationals | 65 | 97 | 29.0 |
| Miami Marlins | 60 | 102 | 34.0 |
| NL Central | |||
| ★ Milwaukee Brewers | 103 | 59 | — |
| ★ Chicago Cubs | 89 | 73 | 14.0 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 77 | 85 | 26.0 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 70 | 92 | 33.0 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 68 | 94 | 35.0 |
| NL West | |||
| ★ Los Angeles Dodgers | 100 | 62 | — |
| ★ San Diego Padres | 91 | 71 | 9.0 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 87 | 75 | 13.0 |
| San Francisco Giants | 75 | 87 | 25.0 |
| Colorado Rockies | 55 | 107 | 45.0 |
★ = Playoff qualifier
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