Phillies and Braves meet in a winner-take-all Game 3 as the Yankees sweep Boston
Philadelphia forced Thursday’s NL Wild Card decider with Alec Bohm’s 10th-inning homer; New York eliminated the Red Sox, and the White Sox prepare for an ALDS with Cleveland.
Phillies vs. Braves, Game 3: After Philadelphia’s 4-3, 10-inning win on Wednesday, the Phillies and Braves are set for a winner-take-all National League Wild Card Game 3 on Thursday in Atlanta, CBS Sports reported. The Phillies trailed 3-1 before Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper hit back-to-back eighth-inning homers off Dylan Lee; Alec Bohm won it with a two-out, 10th-inning drive off Didier Fuentes, as reported Wednesday night.
Neither manager announced a Game 3 starter after Game 2, CBS Sports said. Philadelphia could use Aaron Nola (7-12, 4.67 ERA) on regular rest or Zack Wheeler (14-5, 3.00) on three days’ rest. Atlanta is likely to lean on Grant Holmes (10-6, 3.44) as its bulk pitcher, possibly after an opener. The Braves have lost their last six playoff elimination games; the Phillies are trying to become the second team in as many seasons to rally from a 0-1 Wild Card deficit, CBS Sports noted. The series winner faces the Dodgers in the NL Division Series.
Yankees sweep Red Sox: The Yankees beat the Red Sox 9-2 in Game 2 at Yankee Stadium and won the AL Wild Card Series, NBC Sports and MLB.com reported. Max Fried threw six scoreless innings; Cody Bellinger hit a three-run homer, and New York advanced to face the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS, according to those reports. Boston was eliminated for a second straight postseason.
White Sox–Guardians ALDS set: After sweeping the Astros, the White Sox open a best-of-five AL Division Series against the Guardians on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 1 p.m. ET at Progressive Field, with Game 2 Monday at 5 p.m. ET, the Akron Beacon Journal (Yahoo Sports) reported. Chicago won the season series 7-6. Cleveland had not named a Game 1 starter when that report filed.
What this means: Thursday’s Phillies-Braves Game 3 decides the last Wild Card berth still in play after New York finished off Boston; Chicago’s October run continues Saturday in Cleveland.
Sources
- CBS Sports — Phillies, Braves set for winner-take-all Game 3
- NBC Sports — Yankees cruise to 9-2 win in Game 2, send Red Sox home for second straight season
- MLB.com — Yankees win AL Wild Card Series 2026
- Yahoo Sports (Akron Beacon Journal) — Guardians vs. White Sox in ALDS. Here’s schedule for AL Central rivals