Recapping A Historic 2025 MLB Wild Card Round

The Detroit Tigers suffered one of the most legendary regular-season collapses in history, blowing a 14-game lead to the Cleveland Guardians in nearly two months. It seemed destined to be topped off when they had to face each other in the wild-card round. A humiliating collapse, then to be finished off by the team that leap-frogged you in the wild card, would certainly mark a team’s place in history.

Yet in some way, Detroit survived Cleveland’s momentum and knocked them out of the postseason. The Tigers won game one on the back of another gem from potential Cy Young-winner Tarik Skubal, hurling 7.2 innings with 14 strikeouts while surrendering only six baserunners. His only real mistake was a poorly fielded bouncer back to the mound.

The Guardians rebounded in game two, following a Brant Hurter meltdown that resulted in a three-run home run in the eighth inning. In game three, though, a trio of singles with runners in scoring position proved to be enough to seal a series win for the Tigers. Jack Flaherty, one of Detroit’s biggest question marks in the postseason, did enough.

Both teams were surprisingly evenly matched, with all six starters surrendering no higher than a four ERA. What it came down to was the lack of offense for Cleveland, hitting a paltry .178/.253/.575 slash line with three home runs. While the Tigers were slightly better, their pitching and reliance on small-ball hitting helped them stave off complete embarrassment.

Tanner Bibee, Slade Cecconi, and Gavin Williams all pitched great for the Guardians. The lack of offense really sunk them out of a finishing blow to a reeling Tigers team. They must address it in the offseason.

The Dodgers Hold Off The Reds As Expected

The Cincinnati Reds were going to be outmatched by the Los Angeles Dodgers, no matter what strategy was lined up. Only by the National League’s biggest collapse, courtesy of the New York Mets, were the Reds able to get into the postseason. It was never going to end well, given the severe deficits the team faces on offense.

Los Angeles completely rocked Cincinnati’s pitching, slashing a .373/.440/1.107 line with five home runs and only 15 strikeouts. Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto shut down the Reds for the most part, only giving up four runs in 13.2 innings pitched. Their bullpen did have issues, with at least three pitchers putting up double-digit ERAs.

Cincinnati was overwhelmed in the wild card, hitting no home runs with a batting average under the Mendoza line. They did take a lead temporarily in game two following a Teoscar Hernandez error, but quickly surrendered it back. This team was, in all respects, outmatched and nowhere close to bringing a significant challenge.

Their only real bright spot was rookie Sal Stewart for the Reds, who went two-for-four with four RBIs in game two and a walk. Getting a big hit early in the game to put a team up is never easy, much less at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles easily handled Cincinnati, which got lucky that the Mets fell apart.

The Yankees Make History

A postseason series featuring the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees is always must-watch TV on any given night. The wild card did not disappoint any viewers, except for Boston fans.

For game one, it was the opposite of that, where Aaron Boone pulled left-hander Max Fried in the middle of a pitching duel with left-hander Garrett Crochet. Luke Weaver collapsed and New York stranded the bases loaded with no outs against Aroldis Chapman. The series looked over at that point, and it seemed like Yankee fans were going to call for Boone’s head again.

The tides turned in game two, when both teams went tit-for-tat in the scoring department with a home run here and a single there. An Austin Wells single in the eighth scored Jazz Chisholm Jr., with David Bednar locking down the game.

It was game three, though, where we saw an early candidate for hero of the postseason emerge. New York rookie Cam Schlittler pitched an eight-inning gem, striking out 12 and walking none, the first rookie to do that in the postseason. Combined with a Red Sox defensive collapse, the Yankees became the first team ever to win a wild card series after losing game one.

Pitching was a real concern for New York in the postseason, but they seem to be in good hands. Boston simply got outsmarted after gritting it out in game one. The Yankees need to buckle their offense down for a date with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Padres’ Offense Stalled In Chicago

The San Diego Padres went all in at the deadline, but their offense had major concerns. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado weren’t performing, and their deadline acquisitions weren’t boosting the team much either. That ended up being the kryptonite for A.J. Preller’s win-big approach.

The Chicago Cubs’ pitching, minus rookie sensation Cade Horton, impressed with a 1.67 ERA and 0.852 WHIP. The team also issued only five walks and two home runs. The team’s wild card offense had an on-base percentage under .300, but had a slugging percentage over .400.

For San Diego, their offense completely fell flat aside from Freddy Fermin and Jackson Merrill. It didn’t help matters in game three that a ball four call was ruled strike three, dashing their hopes in the top of the ninth. A decision that the team, rightfully, reamed the umpires out for at the end of the game.

End Of My Wild Card Rant

This has been a fun MLB season, and an enjoyable postseason for fans across the league. For the Division Series, the Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies and Blue Jays will finally appear. The set matchups are, once again, bound to be must-see action.

Look for two classic showdowns, New York vs Toronto and Philadelphia vs Los Angeles, while Detroit looks to make a Cinderella run to the championship series. This weekend and early next week will be incredible baseball.