Rookie pitcher Cam Schlittler showcased his talent by striking out 12 batters in a commanding eight innings as the New York Yankees triumphed over the Boston Red Sox with a 4-0 victory in the Bronx. This win sealed their AL Wild Card Series in a pivotal third game.
The 24-year-old Schlittler left a mark in the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry history by dominating Boston with his 100 mph fastballs in only his 15th major league start. This stellar performance propelled New York into the next round, setting up a best-of-five Division Series clash against the AL East champions, the Toronto Blue Jays, commencing on Saturday.
Making a notable comeback, the Yankees became the first team to bounce back after losing the opener of a best-of-three Wild Card Series and secure advancement since Major League Baseball expanded the first round in 2022.
Despite both the Blue Jays and Yankees finishing tied at the top of their division, Toronto clinched the AL’s top seed and a first-round bye due to their 8-5 advantage in the season series. While the Blue Jays may still be missing shortstop Bo Bichette, who has been sidelined since spraining his left knee on September 6, the team’s strong lineup featuring Vladimir Guerrero Jr., George Springer, and all-star catcher Alejandro Kirk poses a formidable challenge.
Aaron Judge, who delivered a solid performance of 4 for 11 with one RBI against Boston, led the major leagues with a .331 batting average, along with 53 home runs and 114 RBIs during the regular season.
In another playoff game, the Chicago Cubs secured a 3-1 victory over the San Diego Padres in a tense Game 3 of their NL Wild Card Series. Pete Crow-Armstrong’s RBI single off Yu Darvish helped propel the Cubs to victory, supported by stellar defense and a solo homer from Michael Busch. The Cubs advanced to face the NL Central champions, the Milwaukee Brewers, in the upcoming Division Series.
Meanwhile, in the AL Wild Card Series, the Detroit Tigers emerged victorious with a 6-3 win over the Cleveland Guardians in a decisive Game 3. Dillon Dingler, a lifelong Guardians fan, played a crucial role in the Tigers’ win by hitting a tiebreaking home run in the sixth inning and making a pivotal play by throwing out Jose Ramirez attempting to steal second base. Detroit’s manager, A.J. Hinch, commended Dingler’s contributions, as the Tigers gear up to face the Seattle Mariners in the upcoming Division Series.
