Top News:
NBCSports.com:
Padres at Cubs Wild Card Game 1 prediction: Odds, expert picks, pitching matchup, betting trends, stats — For the first time since 2020, the Chicago Cubs are back in the playoffs. They will host the San Diego Padres in a Wild Card series beginning Tuesday afternoon at Wrigley Field.
Discussion:
New York Post and MLB.com
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NBCSports.com:
Reds at Dodgers Wild Card Game 1 prediction: Odds, expert picks, pitching matchup, betting trends, stats — The Dodgers pursuit of back-to-back World Series titles starts Tuesday at Chavez Ravine when they open their Wild Card series against the Cincinnati Reds.
Discussion:
Redleg Nation and Dodger Blue
NBCSports.com:
Tigers at Guardians Wild Card Game 1 prediction: Odds, expert picks, pitching matchup, betting trends, stats — The reward for the Cleveland Guardians (88-74) all-time great comeback to overtake the Detroit Tigers (87-75) and claim the American League's Central Division is...a Wild Card series against those same Tigers.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys and FanGraphs Baseball
NBCSports.com:
Red Sox at Yankees Wild Card Game 1 prediction: Odds, expert picks, pitching matchup, betting trends, stats — One of the great rivalries in sports is renewed Tuesday night when the New York Yankees host the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of their Best of 3 Wild Card series.
Discussion:
New York Post, Pinstripe Alley, New Jersey Online, Boston Herald, The Athletic and masslive.com
Marlowe Alter / Detroit Free Press:
Tigers playoff-clinching win saves Tarik Skubal to start Game 1 of AL wild-card series
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports
Jorge Castillo / ESPN:
Mets fumble final shot at October: 'It's a failure' — MIAMI — In the end, after an unfathomable 3½-month descent that suggested they were more bottom feeder than World Series contender, the New York Mets' assignment Sunday was simple: Beat the Miami Marlins and October baseball would follow.
Discussion:
SNY and baseballmusings.com
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Associated Press:
Reds earn first playoff berth since 2020 as they capitalize on Mets collapsing — MILWAUKEE — This was the kind of moment that helped lure Terry Francona back into managing. — The Cincinnati Reds earned their first playoff berth since 2020 on Sunday, setting off a wild, champagne-soaked celebration.
Discussion:
Redleg Nation and Cincinnati.com
Associated Press:
Mets All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso will opt out of contract and test free agency again — MIAMI — Pete Alonso will opt out of his contract with the New York Mets and enter free agency again this fall, the All-Star first baseman said after the team missed the playoffs.
Discussion:
Newsday, The Athletic, New York Post, MLB Trade Rumors, New York Daily News, Amazin' Avenue, New Jersey Online and masslive.com
Barry M. Bloom / Sportico:
Playoff Window Slams Shut on Mets as Hectic 2025 Season Ends … This season, the Reds won four of their six games in head-to-head competition to send the Mets packing despite having identical 83-79 records. — “It's just straight-up disappointing,” Mets slugging first baseman Pete Alonso …
Discussion:
The Athletic
Associated Press:
Reds, Mets chasing final National League playoff spot on last day of regular season — MILWAUKEE — One playoff berth remains up for grabs heading into the final day of Major League Baseball's regular season. — Cincinnati will earn the National League's third and final wild card …
Discussion:
ESPN, Orlando Sentinel, Cincinnati.com, Yahoo Sports, Redleg Nation and Red Reporter
Barry M. Bloom / Sportico:
‘Smarter’ Brewers Overcome Payroll Cuts in World Series Quest
Discussion:
The Athletic and MLB.com
Associated Press:
Guardians clinch postseason spot with walk-off hit by pitch, complete historic turnaround — CLEVELAND — Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said in the midst of Cleveland's 10-game losing streak in early July that there was light at the end of the tunnel and things would turn around.
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, Plain Dealer, ESPN and Boston Herald
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Associated Press:
Giants fire veteran manager Bob Melvin after two years as Buster Posey seeks ‘different voice’ — SAN FRANCISCO — Buster Posey will search for a fresh managerial voice to guide the San Francisco Giants, someone with an “obsessive” work ethic and attention to detail.
Associated Press:
Blue Jays cap turnaround from worst to first by holding off Yankees to win seventh AL East crown — TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays capped a turnaround from worst to first by holding off the New York Yankees to win the AL East on the final day of the season, their first division title in a decade and the seventh in team history.
Discussion:
MLB.com, NorthJersey.com, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports and Pinstripe Alley
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Associated Press:
Kershaw works 5 1/3 scoreless innings in final regular-season start as Dodgers top Mariners 6-1 — SEATTLE — Clayton Kershaw tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings in the final regular-season start of his 18-year major league career and helped the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Seattle Mariners 6-1 on Sunday.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports and Dodger Blue
ESPN:
Alek Manoah, cut loose by Blue Jays, lands with Braves — The Atlanta Braves on Friday claimed right-hander Alek Manoah, the former Cy Young contender whose struggles with the Toronto Blue Jays led to him being designated for assignment earlier this week. — After going 9-2 as a rookie in 2021 …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, Battery Power and MLB Trade Rumors
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