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    • Live updates from all the wild card action
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    Live updates from all the wild card action

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    October has arrived and it’s brought postseason baseball with it.

    MLB’s wild-card round begins Tuesday, with four games spread throughout the afternoon and evening.

    Twelve teams remain in the hunt for the Commissioner’s Trophy. Four of them − The New York Yankees, Cleveland Guardians, Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies − get first round byes while the other eight battle it out in the best-of-three wild-card round.

    The only thing we know for certain heading into October is that a new team will be crowned champion with the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers not in the postseason. And beware of home-field advantage, it hasn’t been too kind in recent years.

    The home team in last year’s postseason went 15-26 (.366), the worst of any postseason in 53 years, dating back to 1970 when there were only four teams in a postseason (4-7, .364).

    In the last five full years, excluding the 2020 postseason when games were played at neutral sites, more series were won on the road (27) than at home (22).

    So keep it here Tuesday for all the action from the opening games of the MLB wild-card series:

    Kansas City was dealt a blow as Cole Ragans, who was dealing, leaves the game with what was called left leg cramps. Sam Long gets the call to the bump.

    Ragans leaves with eight strikeouts and four hits through six innings.

    Freddy Peralta started the game with a couple of strikeouts but took 17 pitches to get things started. Luis Severino wasn’t as fortunate.

    The Brewers got on the board early thanks to a Turang double to start the festivities for Milwaukee. A William Contreras single scored Turang to get New York into a quick hole.

    Although the Astros threatened in the bottom of the ninth, putting two men in scoring position with only one out, and loading the bases with two outs, Tigers’ reliever Beau Brieske was able to secure the victory by getting veteran outfielder Jason Heyward to line out to first baseman Spencer Torkelson.

    Off the bat, it looked like Heyward had at least tied the game, but Torkelson was there to snag the ball. It wasn’t pretty, but Detroit got the win. 3-1 the final.

    After five scoreless innings, the Royals finally got through to Corbin Burnes after an RBI single by Bobby Witt Jr. Who else could it be in the Royals’ biggest game of the season?

    Although Foley is the Tigers’ closer, Hinch opted for a favorable matchup in Brieske. Brieske is not a great strikeout pitcher though, and with two runners in scoring position and only one out, the Tigers could use a strikeout now more than ever.

    After eight scoreless innings, the Astros have started cooking in the bottom of the ninth, an opposite field single from Yainer Diaz scores Dezenzo, and the Astros are down just two with two men on and no outs.

    Foley got the nod from Tigers’ manager A.J. Hinch to close out Game 1. However, he’d have to get through Houston’s gauntlet of Yordan Alvarez, Alex Bregman, and Yainer Diaz to get the win. Things did not get off to a hot start, surrendering a double to Alvarez, who left the game afterwards for pinch-runner Zach Dezenzo. Bregman would secure an infield single, pushing Dezenzo to third and suddenly, Tigers’ fans were biting their nails.

    A double from Ramon Urias and a single from Cedric Mullins put runners on the corners with only one out. Ragans stuck out James McCann though, passing the burden of driving in the game’s first runs to Baltimore’s leadoff man Gunnar Henderson.

    Ragans wasted no time setting down Henderson. Back-to-back punchouts to keep this one scoreless heading into the sixth.

    After just one out from Caleb Ferguson, the Astros turned to their stud lefty reliever, Josh Hader. Hader was quick to get Kerry Carpenter to ground out, but Riley Greene took the first pitch he saw to deep right field, earning a ground-rule double.

    Greene would wind up at third following a groundout from Colt Keith, but Wenceel Perez was unable to drive him home. Hader got Perez to pop out to first base. We head to the bottom of the ninth, Tigers lead 3-0.

    Offense has been hard to come by in Game 1 between the Royals and Orioles. Orioles’ starter Corbin Burnes has allowed only two hits through five innings. The fifth inning got off to a good start for the Royals after Yuli Gurrield led off the innings with a single to center field. After MJ Melendez lined into a double play though, Burnes set down Pham on strikes to finish off the inning. The game is still scoreless heading into the bottom of the fifth.

    Coming into Game 1, everyone assumed the Tigers would have the advantage with Tarik Skubal taking the mound. However, after Skubal’s departure following the sixth inning, the future was uncertain. Well, Will Vest was arguably better than Skubal, facing five hitters and striking out four. He exited the game with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. In his stead comes Tyler Holton who will look to get the final four outs of this one.

    Cole Ragans and Corbin Burnes are trading three-up, three-down innings with one another. In the bottom of the fourth, Ragans set down Anthony Santander, Ryan Mountcastle, and Adley Rutschmann with relative ease. He’s allowed only two baserunners all game and struck out five. Through four full innings, it’s still scoreless.

    After two solid, scoreless innings from Ronel Blanco, the Astros have opted for right-hander Caleb Ferguson following a walk to Matt Vierling. The Tigers are not threatening, per se, with only a runner on first and two outs, but with Kerry Carpenter at the plate, Ferguson was the play.

    Ferguson didn’t stay on the mound long. One pitch in the dirt, and Vierling took off for second. He was thrown out, and the inning was over. Heading into the bottom of the eighth, the Tigers still lead 3-0.

    After a quick two outs to lead off the top of the fourth, Corbin Burnes gave Orioles’ fans a bit of a scare surrendering a very deep fly ball to Salvador Perez. However, that deep, deep left field wall in Camden Yards remains undefeated, as Perez wound up flying out just before the warning track. Heading into the bottom of the fourth, it’s still a scoreless ball game.

    Fans were unsure whether or not Mullins would be in the Orioles’ starting lineup after a lackluster season. However, that decision seems to have paid off early on. Mullins led off the bottom of the third with a double off the top of the right field wall. Mullins is now 1-for-1 in his career against Cole Ragans with a double and two walks. Game is still tied 0-0, but the Orioles have a man in scoring position with no outs in the bottom of the third.

    A brief two-out rally for Detroit wound up loading the bases, but Ronel Blanco was able to get Parker Meadows to strike out, holding Detroit’s lead to just three runs. It’s time for the stretch in Houston, as the Astros look to muster any offense.

    Although many of the Royals’ young stars have no postseason experience, Tommy Pham remains one of the veterans on the team who knows what to expect in October. He wasted no time displaying his calm nerves, diving to rob the Orioles’ Ryan Mountcastle of a base hit to lead off the bottom of the second inning.

    After giving up a shot off the left-field wall to Alex Bregman, Skubal finished the inning with a strikeout on Diaz with a 99-mph fastball.

    Skubal was noticeably amped and should be as he concludes six shutout innings on just four hits.

    Corbin Burnes and Cole Ragans share the bump for the Orioles and Royals, respectively. The first inning had some excitement but both pitchers were able to start the game.

    Burnes induced a couple of pop outs and a fielder’s choice ground ball. Ragans then came on and dealt with a formidable Orioles lineup. No score after one.

    Houston keeps the bullpen churning, with Ronel Blanco coming on with two outs and one on in the sixth inning. He gets Vierling on a 93-mph to end the threat.

    The Kansas City Royals face Corbin Burnes to kick off the second game in a packed schedule for MLB wild card series on Tuesday.

    Houston makes another change to start the sixth. Left-hander Bryan King comes on and will face Parker Meadows, Jake Rogers and Trey Sweeney.

    Welp, so much for making Skubal work.

    The Tigers ace really could have used smooth sailing after an exhausting fourth. The Astros obliged with some quick at-bats to the end the inning. Skubal needed just five pitches and is now sitting on 67 pitches on the afternoon.

    This call to the bullpen was brought to you by timely decisions.

    Working his fastball-splitter combo, Neris made quick work of Perez and Torkelson, getting both batters with swinging strikes to end the inning. No damage done as the Astros now try to whittle away at the deficit before the later innings.

    After pitching 78 pitches and getting a strikeout on Greene the Astros welcome Hector Neris into the game with Justyn-Henry Malloy on first and one out.

    After a smooth top of the fourth for Valdez, Skubal went back to work. The lefty gave up a single to Alvarez to start the inning.

    The story of this half-inning was about workload as the Astros got Skubal to increase that pitch count. The Bregman hit and a walk to Diaz brought the Tigers pitcher to 62 pitches through four.

    But Detroit comes away unscathed.

    Score: Tigers 3, Astros 0

    Talk about efficient.

    American League Cy Young candidate and Tigers ace Tarik Skubal needed just five pitches − all strikes − to get through the first inning against the Astros.

    Meanwhile, the Tigers got back-to-back-to-back RBI singles off Astros starter Framber Valdez to give Detroit an early 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning.

    Tigers fans must be resting a little easy with Skubal in control and an early lead.

    National League Cy Young favorite and Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale was left off the wild card roster against the San Diego Padres. He was a late scratch from an elimination game start Monday due to back spasms.

    Hours before Game 1, the Braves said Sale (18-3, 2.38 ERA) wouldn’t be available until at least the division series. He hasn’t pitched since Sept. 19, when his velocity dropped.

    Right-handers Bryce Elder and AJ Smith-Shawver are candidates to start Game 1 vs. the Padres tonight.

    Sale could be added to the roster for the divisional round if the Braves advance.

    BALTIMORE – Vinnie Pasquantino gazed up at the ceiling, as if the sky was right there, and mused about the gloom outside at Camden Yards.

    “Is it ever sunny here? I don’t think I’ve seen the sun in Baltimore,” the Kansas City Royals designated hitter mused.

    Yet Tuesday morning was, in fact, quite bright for the left-handed slugger: He woke up before 7, discovered his surgically repaired thumb felt just fine and texted such to a club trainer. And after five weeks of recovery, Pasquantino just beat the deadline to earn inclusion on the Royals’ wild-card series roster.

    Pasquantino will bat third against the Orioles.

    “We’re here now,” says Pasquantino, “and the rehab is not over. But the games can start.” 

    And not a moment too soon for the Royals. They posted an 11-16 record without Pasquantino in the lineup, this after going 75-60 when he was healthy. Yet the Royals overcame a late seven-game losing streak to win four of six in the final week, just as Pasquantino began hitting against a machine, and on the field, and determined he was ready just before Game 1.

    He grew up about three hours away, near Richmond, Va., and had to tell friends he had no tickets. Getting there one year after the club lost 106 games was good enough; now, he’ll have an impact.

    “To get here now, and the cherry on top is that I get to play,” he said.  − Gabe Lacques

    Great news for the Astros: Slugger Yordan Alvarez, who has been nursing a sore knee, is on the wild-card series roster and batting third. 

    Mildly surprising news: Justin Verlander was excluded from the roster.

    Verlander, the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer, has struggled since returning from a neck injury, posting an 8.10 ERA in eight starts since August. He’s given up at least five earned runs in four of those starts. 

    Verlander has made 37 career starts, and earned his first World Series win during the Astros’ run to the 2022 championship. 

    “Justin Verlander is a professional,” Astros manager Joe Espada said before Game 1 against the Detroit Tigers. “He knows how well our starting pitchers have to perform throughout the season. So when we had this conversation, he was all in. He’ll do what’s best for this team. So I appreciated his feedback and how he evaluated his season and his last few starts.”

    Left-hander Framber Valdez will start Game 1. − Gabe Lacques

    Note: Umpires rotate from right field to left and then clockwise around the bases starting at third during an MLB postseason series, so the ump at second base for the opener will be behind the plate for a potential Game 3 in the wild card round.

    Detroit Tigers at Houston Astros

    • Alfonso Marquez (crew chief): Third base for Game 1
    • Tony Randazzo: Home plate for Game 1
    • Jordan Baker: First base for Game 1; Home plate for Game 2
    • Will Little: Second base for Game 1; Home plate for Game 3
    • Jeremie Rehak: Left field for Game 1
    • Junior Valentine: Right field for Game 1

    Kansas City Royals at Baltimore Orioles

    • Bill Miller (crew chief): Third base for Game 1
    • Ryan Additon: Home plate for Game 1
    • Ben May: First base for Game 1; Home plate for Game 2
    • Nic Lentz: Second base for Game 1; Home plate for Game 3
    • David Rackley: Left field for Game 1
    • Malachi Moore: Right field for Game 1

    New York Mets at Milwaukee Brewers

    • Alan Porter (crew chief): Third base for Game 1
    • Alex Tosi: Home plate for Game 1
    • Chris Segal: First base for Game 1; Home plate for Game 2
    • Vic Carapazza: Second base for Game 1; Home plate for Game 3
    • Mike Estabrook: Left field for Game 1
    • Brennan Miller: Right field for Game 1

    Atlanta Braves at San Diego Padres

    • Dan Iassogna (crew chief): Third base for Game 1
    • Nestor Ceja: Home plate for Game 1
    • Phil Cuzzi: First base for Game 1; Home plate for Game 2
    • Jansen Visconti: Second base for Game 1; Home plate for Game 3
    • Mark Wegner: Left field for Game 1
    • Erich Bacchus: Right field for Game 1

    Astros lineup

    1. Jose Altuve, 2B
    2. Kyle Tucker, RF
    3. Yordan Alvarez, DH
    4. Alex Bregman, 3B
    5. Yainer Diaz, C
    6. Jeremy Peña, SS
    7. Victor Caratini, 1B
    8. Mauricio Dubón, LF
    9. Jake Meyers, CF

    All times Eastern

    • No. 6 Detroit Tigers at No. 3 Houston Astros – 2:32 p.m.
    • No. 5 Kansas City Royals at No. 4 Baltimore Orioles – 4:07 p.m.
    • No. 6 New York Mets at No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers – 5:32 p.m.
    • No. 5 Atlanta Braves at No. 4 San Diego Padres – 8:38 p.m.
    • Tigers vs. Astros: LHP Tarik Skubal (18-4, 2.39 ERA) vs. LHP Framber Valdez (15-7, 2.91 ERA)
    • Royals vs. Orioles: LHP Cole Ragans (11-9, 3.14 ERA) vs. RHP Corbin Burnes (15-9, 2.92 ERA)
    • Mets vs. Brewers: RHP Luis Severino (11-7, 3.91 ERA) vs. RHP Freddy Peralta (11-9, 3.68 ERA)
    • Braves vs. Padres: TBD vs. RHP Michael King (13-9, 2.95 ERA)

    Who will move on? Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports MLB team sees this week playing out.

    Detroit Tigers (86-76) at Houston Astros (88-73)

    • Bob Nightengale: Astros in 3
    • Gabe Lacques: Tigers in 2
    • Steve Gardner Astros in 3
    • Jesse Yomtov: Astros in 3
    • Scott Boeck: Tigers in 3

    Kansas City Royals (86-76) at Baltimore Orioles (91-71)

    • Bob Nightengale: Orioles in 3
    • Gabe Lacques: Orioles in 2
    • Steve Gardner: Orioles in 3
    • Jesse Yomtov: Orioles in 2
    • Scott Boeck: Orioles in 3

    New York Mets (89-73) at Milwaukee Brewers (93-69)

    • Bob Nightengale: Brewers in 2
    • Gabe Lacques: Brewers in 2
    • Steve Gardner: Brewers in 2
    • Jesse Yomtov: Mets in 3
    • Scott Boeck: Brewers in 2

    Atlanta Braves (89-73) at San Diego Padres (93-69)

    • Bob Nightengale: Padres in 2
    • Gabe Lacques: Padres in 2
    • Steve Gardner: Padres in 2
    • Jesse Yomtov: Braves in 3
    • Scott Boeck: Padres in 2

    Astros vs Tigers

    Orioles vs. Royals

    Brewers vs. Mets

    Padres vs. Braves

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