MLB postseason begins with Wild Card Series matchups

The Major League Baseball postseason has commenced with the Wild Card Series featuring twelve qualifying teams. The American League highlights include a high-stakes matchup between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. For the Yankees, Cam Schlittler is expected to start Game 1, while the Red Sox are slated to field Payton Tolle. Other notable American League matchups include the Chicago White Sox facing the Houston Astros, the latter of whom qualified despite an 81-81 record.

In the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies will visit the Atlanta Braves, and the Chicago Cubs will face the San Diego Padres. Several teams, including the Cleveland Guardians, Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Milwaukee Brewers, have earned direct byes to the Division Series.

The postseason features significant international representation, particularly from Dominican and Venezuelan players. The rosters include key figures such as Ronald Acuña Jr., José Altuve, and Luis Arráez. While some teams like the Dodgers face injury concerns, others like the Brewers are noted for a lack of home run power heading into the playoffs.