Who is ready for some more MLB playoff action?
After the first day of the wild-card round featured close wins by the Detroit Tigers, San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox, it’s time for the first potential elimination day of the 2025 postseason.
Who will stay alive and who will be sent packing?
We’ve got you covered with pregame lineups, keys to forcing Game 3, sights and sounds from the ballparks, and postgame takeaways as each Day 2 matchup ends.
Key links: Megapreview | Day 1 lessons | Bracket | Schedule
Jump to a matchup:
DET-CLE | SD-CHC | BOS-NYY | CIN-LAD
1 p.m. ET on ESPN
Tigers lead 1-0
Game 2 starters: Casey Mize vs. Tanner Bibee
What the Guardians need to do to force Game 3: Figure out a way to score some runs. Hey, at least they won’t be facing Tarik Skubal. The Guardians’ best bet is to have Jose Ramirez or Kyle Manzardo run into something, as Mize can be vulnerable to the home run at times (21 allowed in 149 innings). But maybe Cleveland can get Mize to run up his count and force AJ Hinch to go a little earlier than he would like to a Detroit bullpen that was shaky in September (2-8, 4.58 ERA) and especially struggled in close games. — David Schoenfield
Lineups
Tigers
1. Parker Meadows (L) CF
2. Gleyber Torres (R) 2B
3. Kerry Carpenter (L) DH
4. Spencer Torkelson (R) 1B
5. Riley Greene (L) LF
6. Wenceel Perez (S) RF
7. Dillon Dingler (R) C
8. Zach McKinstry (L) 3B
9. Javier Baez (R) SS
Guardians
1. Steven Kwan (L) LF
2. George Valera (L) RF
3. Jose Ramirez (S) 3B
4. Kyle Manzardo (L) DH
5. Bo Naylor (L) C
6. Gabriel Arias (R) SS
7. Chase DeLauter (L) CF
8. CJ Kayfus (L) 1B
9. Brayan Rocchio (S) 2B
3 p.m. ET on ABC
Cubs lead 1-0
Game 2 starters: Dylan Cease vs. Andrew Kittredge
What the Padres need to do to force Game 3: As dominant as the Cubs’ bullpen looked in Game 1, that suggests the Padres will need to take an early lead and hand the game to their bullpen while ahead. And that means getting a strong effort from Cease. But his home/away splits were pretty dramatic this year:…
