The Atlanta Braves are moving on to the National League Division Series, after ousting the Phillies in a decisive Game 3 of their Wild Card Series on Thursday night. That 6-2 victory for Atlanta means they now get to face the reigning champion Dodgers in what’s shaping up to be a wild NLDS matchup.
Wild Card Round: Sweeps, Surprises, and a Stiff Challenge
This Wild Card Series round delivered some serious action, even if it was mostly quick work. While the Braves battled it out for all three games, taking Game 3 on October 1, three other teams made short work of their competition. The White Sox absolutely dominated, sweeping the Astros in two games, capped off by a 7-3 win on Wednesday. Over in the AL, the Yankees didn’t mess around either, sweeping the Red Sox with a 9-2 victory in Game 2. And the Padres handled the Cubs, sweeping them out with a 4-1 win in their second game. Talk about efficient!
It is wild how often the Game 1 winner takes the series. Since the Wild Card format came in back in 2022, the Game 1 winner has advanced in 19 out of 20 tries. The Braves followed that trend, winning Game 1 against the Phillies 5-3, then dropping Game 2 (4-3 in 10 innings) before shutting them down in Game 3.
LDS Matchups Are Locked: Get Ready for Some Insane Baseball
With the Wild Card dust settled, eight teams remain, and the League Division Series matchups are officially locked. We have some heavy hitters coming in fresh, too. The Rays grabbed the top seed in the American League, while the Guardians secured the No. 2 seed despite an 85-77 record, which actually ranks 10th among the 12 playoff teams. In the National League, the Brewers stacked up 103 wins, and the Dodgers hit 100 wins, flexing their muscle as two-time reigning champions.
Here’s how the LDS is shaking out:
* **ALDS:** The Rays will face the Yankees, who are red hot after their sweep. The Guardians will get the White Sox, also coming off a quick series win.
* **NLDS:** The Brewers are set to host the Padres, another team that swept their way into this round. And, of course, the Dodgers get the Braves, who just fought tooth and nail to make it here.
What’s Next? Your Weekend Playoff Schedule is Stacked
The action kicks off on Saturday, October 3, with Game 1s across the board. You know we’re tuning in for the Braves @ Dodgers showdown at 4 p.m. Eastern, right after the White Sox @ Guardians at 1 p.m. Later, it’s Yankees @ Rays at 6:30 p.m. and Padres @ Brewers at 8:30 p.m. Then on Sunday, it’s Game 2s, with Padres @ Brewers at 4 p.m. and Braves @ Dodgers at 8 p.m. Eastern. Monday brings us the ALDS Game 2s: White Sox @ Guardians at 5 p.m. and Yankees @ Rays at 8 p.m. After that, Game 3s start Tuesday, October 6. This is going to be an absolutely insane stretch of playoff baseball, and we can’t wait to see who comes out on top!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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