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Three MLB wild-card series came to an end on Wednesday — and one is headed to a win-or-go-home Game 3.

The Detroit Tigers continued their shocking surge with a wild-card sweep, eliminating the American League West champion Houston Astros with a comeback win. The Kansas City Royals followed suit in the second AL matchup of the day, sweeping the Orioles in Baltimore. After trailing the Mets for the majority of the game, the Milwaukee Brewers had a three-run, two-homer eighth inning to beat New York and force a Game 3 on Thursday. The San Diego Padres ended the night by moving on to the National League Division Series with a sweep of the Atlanta Braves.

How did it all go down? We’ve got you covered with live updates and analysis as the games were played, followed by our takeaways after each final pitch.

Key links: Everything you need to know | Bracket | Picks

Game 2 takeaways

Tigers win series 2-0

Perhaps it was fitting that Andy Ibañez, a 31-year-old part-time player who batted .175 over the past two months, delivered the biggest hit of the Tigers’ season. He was summoned to pinch hit against Astros star closer Josh Hader with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth, and Ibañez laced a three-run double down the left-field line. The hit propelled Detroit to victory in a game that saw it deploy seven different pitchers. The Tigers are young and unheralded, but they continue to find a way. Their latest conquest: snapping Houston’s streak of seven consecutive trips to the American League Championship Series. By doing so, the Tigers advance to the division series, which begins Saturday. Their unfathomable run continues.

What’s next: The Tigers’ next opponent is a familiar one — their AL Central rivals the Cleveland Guardians, a team that seems just as scrappy and united as the Tigers. The Guardians barely won the teams’ season series, taking seven of 13. The Astros, meanwhile, enter an offseason of uncertainty, mostly surrounding their star third baseman, Alex Bregman, who is scheduled for free agency. — Alden Gonzalez


Royals win series 2-0

If the Royals were going to strut into Baltimore and emerge with their first postseason series win in nearly a decade, it would follow the formula that got them here: excellent starting pitching, airtight defense and clutch hitting. The script was followed almost precisely as written, and the Royals’ series-clinching 2-1 victory — which followed a 1-0 triumph in Game 1 — sent Kansas City to face the top-seeded New York Yankees in the AL Division Series.

The starting pitching in Game 2 was less excellent than solid, with Seth Lugo pulled after 4⅓ innings with the bases loaded and one out. But Angel Zerpa escaped the jam and started a parade of 4⅔ scoreless from Kansas City’s suddenly stellar bullpen. The Royals’ infielders and outfielders were steel traps, and for the second consecutive game, Bobby Witt Jr. drove in the winning run.

What’s next: Onto New York they go, renewing a rivalry that in the late 1970s had no equal in baseball. The game is different, yes, but with Cole Ragans lined up to go twice in the five-game series, the gloves still superb and Witt joined by Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez in the middle of the lineup, the Royals hope to replicate what happened the last time these teams played in the postseason in what was a five-game 1980 ALCS: a three-game sweep. — Jeff Passan


Series tied 1-1

The Brewers were in this position last year — down 1-0 to a 6-seed, battling in a close elimination game, needing just one big hit to even things up. That big hit never came, and the loss helped launch the Arizona Diamondbacks to the World Series. But a big theme about these Brewers is that while the wins and the seed are the same, this is a very different club. And so it is. The Brewers got not just one big hit when they had to have one but two on eighth-inning homers from Jackson Chourio and Garrett Mitchell.

This was the version of the Brewers that had everyone so excited. They are young. They have swagger, power and speed. And they have a deep, lethal bullpen ideal for October baseball. That group showed up just in time during Game 2. So much about going on a run in the playoffs is simply grabbing the momentum. The Mets have been riding the wave all week, starting in Atlanta. However, heading into a decisive Game 3 on Thursday, the Brewers now have momentum on their side. And best of all: We actually get a wild-card Game 3!

What’s next: There will be a recognition gap between the starting pitchers in the deciding Game 3. While the Mets’ Jose Quintana is a familiar veteran who has played on several playoff clubs, those just tuning in from outside Milwaukee will be less familiar with Tobias Myers. Just know this: Myers, a 26-year-old rookie righty, has been terrific over the past three months. Since July 10, Myers has a 2.55 ERA and a 3.46 FIP (fielding independent pitching). One pitcher might be more familiar than the other, but it’s hard to see which team has the pitching edge going into the matchup. — Bradford Doolittle


Padres win series 2-0

The Padres were a popular World Series pick heading into the playoffs given the way they played over the final three months, and they showed why in this two-game sweep: potentially dominant starting pitching like we saw from Michael King (although Joe Musgrove left Game 2 with an injury, so keep an eye on that); a deep bullpen; a mix of power and contact hitting on offense; and rookie sensation Jackson Merrill, who seems to always deliver at the right time.

For the Braves, it was just too much to ask to overcome the injuries to Chris Sale, Austin Riley, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Spencer Strider. They’ll be back next year — hopefully with their A lineup and rotation.

What’s next: Dodgers-Padres. The showdown is on. And baseball fans can expect plenty of fireworks in a dynamic NLDS matchup, starting Saturday in Los Angeles. — David Schoenfield

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Manfred to rule on Rose ban after Trump meeting

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Manfred to rule on Rose ban after Trump meeting

NEW YORK — Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said he discussed Pete Rose with President Donald Trump at a meeting two weeks ago and he plans to rule on a request to end the sport’s permanent ban of the career hits leader, who died in September.

Speaking Monday at a meeting of the Associated Press Sports Editors, Manfred said he and Trump discussed several issues, including concerns over how immigration policies could impact players from Cuba, Venezuela and other foreign countries.

Manfred is considering a petition to have Rose posthumously removed from MLB’s permanently ineligible list. The petition was filed in January by Jeffrey Lenkov, a Southern California lawyer who represented Rose prior to the 17-time All-Star’s death at age 83.

“I met with President Trump two weeks ago … and one of the topics was Pete Rose, but I’m not going beyond that,” Manfred said. “He’s said what he said publicly. I’m not going beyond that in terms of what the back and forth was.”

Trump posted on social media Feb. 28 that he plans to issue “a complete PARDON of Pete Rose.” Trump posted on Truth Social that Rose “shouldn’t have been gambling on baseball, but only bet on HIS TEAM WINNING.”

It’s unclear what a presidential pardon might include. Trump did not specifically mention a tax case in which Rose pleaded guilty in 1990 to two counts of filing false tax returns and served a five-month prison sentence.

The president said he would sign a pardon for Rose “over the next few weeks” but has not addressed the matter since.

Rose had 4,256 hits and also holds records for games (3,562) and plate appearances (15,890). He was the 1973 National League MVP and played on three World Series winners.

An investigation for MLB by lawyer John M. Dowd found Rose placed numerous bets on the Cincinnati Reds to win from 1985-87 while playing for and managing the team. Rose agreed with MLB on a permanent ban in 1989.

Lenkov is seeking Rose’s reinstatement so that he can be considered for the Hall of Fame. Under a rule adopted by the Hall’s board of directors in 1991, anyone on the permanently ineligible list can’t be considered for election to the Hall. Rose applied for reinstatement in 1997 and met with Commissioner Bud Selig in November 2002, but Selig never ruled on Rose’s request. Manfred in 2015 denied Rose’s application for reinstatement.

Manfred said reinstating Rose now was “a little more complicated than it might appear on the outside” and did not commit to a timeline except that “I want to get it done promptly as soon as we get the work done.”

“I’m not going to give this the pocket veto,” Manfred said. “I will in fact issue a ruling.”

Rose’s reinstatement doesn’t mean he would automatically appear on a Hall of Fame ballot. He would first have to be nominated by the Hall’s Historical Overview Committee, which is picked by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America and approved by the Hall’s board.

Manfred said he has been in regular contact with chairman Jane Forbes Clark.

“I mean, believe me, a lot of Hall of Fame dialogue on this one,” Manfred said.

If reinstated, Rose potentially would be eligible for consideration to be placed on a ballot to be considered by the 16-member Classic Baseball Era committee in December 2027.

Manfred said he doesn’t think baseball’s current ties to legal sports betting should color views on Rose’s case.

“There is and always has been a clear demarcation between what Rob Manfred, ordinary citizen, can do on the one hand, and what someone who has the privilege to play or work in Major League Baseball can do on the other in respect to gambling,” Manfred said. “The fact that the law changed, and we sell data and/or sponsorships, which is essentially all we do, to sports betting enterprises, I don’t think changes that.

“It’s a privilege to play Major League Baseball. As with every privilege, there comes responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is that they not bet on the game.”

Manfred did not go into details on his discussion with Trump over foreign-born players other than to say he expressed worry.

“Given the number of foreign-born players we have, we’re always concerned about ingress and egress,” Manfred said. “We have had dialogue with the administration about this topic. And, you know, they’re very interested in sports. They understand the unique need to be able to go back and forth, and I’m going to leave it at that.”

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Braves activate RHP Anderson, sign OF Rosario

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Braves activate RHP Anderson, sign OF Rosario

It was old faces in familiar places for the Atlanta Braves on Monday after they activated right-hander Ian Anderson to the active roster and signed outfielder Eddie Rosario to a major league contract.

In corresponding moves, outfielder Jarred Kelenic was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett, while right-hander Davis Daniel was optioned to Triple-A after Sunday’s game.

Both Anderson and Rosario emerged as 2021 postseason heroes in Atlanta as the Braves went on to win the World Series.

Anderson, who was claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, went 4-0 with a 1.26 ERA in eight postseason starts for the Braves over the 2020 and 2021 postseasons.

In the 2021 World Series, Anderson famously pitched five no-hit innings in Game 3 to lead Atlanta to a 2-0 victory over the Houston Astros. The Braves defeated the Astros in six games.

Anderson, who turns 27 Friday, was traded by the Braves to the Angels on March 23 for left-hander Jose Suarez. He struggled badly with his new club, going 0-1 with an 11.57 ERA in seven relief appearances. He allowed 17 hits and seven walks in just 9⅓ innings.

Rosario, 33, signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in February and played in two games with the club, going 1-for-4. He was designated for assignment and became a free agent when Shohei Ohtani returned from the paternity list just over a week ago.

Rosario was the 2021 National League Championship Series MVP, when he powered the Braves past the Dodgers with three home runs, nine RBIs and a 1.647 OPS in six games.

Over parts of 11 seasons, Rosario is a career .261 hitter with 169 home runs and 583 RBIs in 1,123 games with five different clubs, including five seasons with the Minnesota Twins (2015-20) and four with the Braves (2021-24).

Kelenic, 25, was batting .167 with two home runs in 23 games and is a career .211 hitter with 49 home runs and 156 RBIs in 406 games with the Seattle Mariners (2021-23) and Braves.

Daniel, 27, made his only appearance for the Braves on Sunday with a scoreless inning and has appeared in 10 games (six starts) over the past three seasons with a 4.95 ERA.

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Two-time Cup winner Sullivan out as Pens coach

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Two-time Cup winner Sullivan out as Pens coach

Mike Sullivan, who led the Pittsburgh Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017, is out as the team’s head coach, it was announced Monday.

Sullivan was the longest-tenured coach in Penguins history after just completing his 10th season. The 57-year-old, who also coached Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off, was under contract in Pittsburgh through 2026-27.

In a statement, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas said the decision was “the best course forward for all involved” as Pittsburgh navigates a transitional period.

“On behalf of Fenway Sports Group and the Penguins organization, I would like to thank Mike Sullivan for his unwavering commitment and loyalty to the team and City of Pittsburgh over the past decade,” Dubas said. “Mike is known for his preparation, focus and fierce competitiveness. I was fortunate to have a front-row seat to his dedication to this franchise for the past two seasons. He will forever be an enormous part of Penguins history, not only for the impressive back-to-back Cups, his impact on the core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Bryan Rust, but more importantly, for his love and loyalty to the organization. This was not a decision that was taken lightly, but as we continue to navigate the Penguins through this transitional period, we felt it was the best course forward for all involved.”

The Penguins have missed the playoffs for three straight seasons as Dubas works to retool the team into a contender while Crosby is still competing at a high level. Crosby just completed his 20th straight season in which he posted a point-per-game scoring pace, and he was voted by his peers in the NHLPA as the league’s most complete player. The captain is under contract through next season on a two-year extension he signed prior to the 2024-25 season.

Sullivan was elevated to Penguins head coach in 2015 after leading the organization’s AHL team in Wilkes-Barre. With 409 wins in Pittsburgh, he leaves as the Penguins’ all-time wins leader.

With Sullivan’s departure, there are now seven head-coaching vacancies in the NHL. The Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Anaheim Ducks, Seattle Kraken and New York Rangers are also searching for new coaches right now. According to sources, Sullivan has been atop the Rangers’ wish list.

Sources also said Sullivan is keen on coaching again next season and will be a top candidate for several of the vacancies. Sullivan worked as an assistant coach with the Rangers and as both an assistant and head coach with the Bruins earlier in his career.

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