MLB ROUNDUP: YANKEES EDGE RED SOX TO FORCE GAME 3
Austin Wells hit a tiebreaking single with two outs in the eighth inning, and the New York Yankees avoided elimination with a 4-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of their American League wild-card series on Wednesday night.
Game 3 of the best-of-three set will be played Thursday in New York, and the winner will advance to face the top-seeded Toronto Blue Jays in the AL Division Series on Saturday.
Boston reliever Garrett Whitlock (0-1) got the first two outs in the eighth before Jazz Chisholm Jr. walked. Following a mound visit, Wells put the Yankees ahead when he lined a full-count changeup down the right field line. Chisholm scored from first, sliding in headfirst just ahead of the throw from right fielder Nate Eaton.
New York’s Ben Rice hit a two-run homer in the first inning off Brayan Bello and had two hits in his postseason debut. Aaron Judge hit an RBI single in the fifth as the Yankees beat the Red Sox in the postseason for the second time in the past 11 meetings since Game 3 of the 2004 AL Championship Series.
Trevor Story drove in three runs off New York starter Carlos Rodon. He hit a two-run single in the third and blasted a game-tying homer to open the sixth.
Guardians 6, Tigers 1
Brayan Rocchio belted a go-ahead solo homer and Bo Naylor had a three-run shot as part of a five-run eighth inning, giving Cleveland a victory over Detroit in Game 2 of their American League wild-card series.
Rocchio’s 379-foot shot to right field occurred after Troy Melton (0-1) retired C.J. Kayfus to start the eighth, giving Cleveland a 2-1 advantage. Steven Kwan followed with a double and was driven in by Daniel Schneeman.
The Central Division champion Guardians forced a winner-take-all Game 3 at home Thursday, when they will attempt to become the first team to advance after losing Game 1 since the current wild-card format became permanent in 2022. The Tigers left 15 on base and went 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position.
Padres 3, Cubs 0
Manny Machado belted a two-run homer in the fifth inning, helping visiting San Diego square their National League wild-card series against Chicago at one win apiece.
Fernando Tatis Jr. scored on a sacrifice fly from Jackson Merrill in the first inning. Luis Arraez contributed two of the seven hits for the Padres. Adrian Morejon (1-0) relieved starter Dylan Cease in the fourth inning and did not allow a hit over 2 1/3 scoreless innings.
Opener Andrew Kittredge (0-1) gave up the first inning run, and Shota Imanaga pitched the next four innings, allowing Machado’s blast. San Diego pitching allowed only four hits; Seiya Suzuki accounted for the lone extra-base hit, a two-out double in the fourth.
Dodgers 8, Reds 4
Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched into the seventh inning, Mookie Betts produced four hits and three RBIs and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for an 8-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday to advance to the National League Division Series.
After sweeping the best-of-three NL wild-card series, Los Angeles will visit the Philadelphia Phillies for Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday. The Dodgers will compete in the division series for the 13th consecutive year.
Betts hit three doubles to tie a Dodgers playoff record for a single game, and teammate Teoscar Hernandez knocked in two runs.
REPORT: ALBERT PUJOLS LEADING CANDIDATE FOR ANGELS’ MANAGERIAL JOB
The Los Angeles Angels are trending toward hiring a familiar face as their next manager, The Athletic reported on Wednesday.
Per the report, Angels owner Arte Moreno’s leading choice for the role is longtime superstar Albert Pujols, and the decision itself could very well be in the former slugger’s hands.
Pujols, 45, spent 10 of his 22 seasons in his eventual Hall of Fame career with the Angels. He’s also still tied to the club, as he rejoined the Angels’ organization as a special assistant as part of a 10-year personal services contract.
The three-time MVP and 11-time All-Star concluded his playing career with the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers and has been managing in the Dominican Winter League since retiring after the 2022 campaign. He is expected to serve as the skipper of the Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
The Angels announced Tuesday that they had declined the option on former manager Ron Washington’s contract for 2026. They said they will begin the process of hiring a new manager “immediately,” marking the end of Ray Montgomery’s interim stint.
The Angels (72-90) finished last in the American League West for the second straight season, 18 games behind the division champion Seattle Mariners.
General manager Perry Minasian’s status is uncertain after the team missed the playoffs for the 11th consecutive season, per The Athletic. Minasian has been in his current position since 2020.
BRAVES MANAGER BRIAN SNITKER WON’T RETURN IN ’26, MOVES TO ADVISORY ROLE
Brian Snitker will not return as manager of the Atlanta Braves, transitioning to an adviser role in 2026 for his 50th season with the franchise.
Snitker will be inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame next season, the team said Wednesday.
Named manager about a month into the 2016 season to replace the fired Fredi Gonzales, Snitker compiled an 811-668 (.548) record in Atlanta. He led the Braves to six National League East titles, seven consecutive playoff appearances, and the World Series championship in 2021.
Snitker, who turns 70 this month, stands behind Hall of Fame managers Bobby Cox (2,149) and Frank Selee (1,004) for most wins in franchise history.
An Illinois native, Snitker signed with the Braves in 1977 as an undrafted free agent catcher. He served a variety of roles within the organization, including 20 seasons as a minor league manager.
It was Braves legend Henry Aaron who set Snitker on a managerial path. In 1980, when Aaron was the team’s farm director, he moved Snitker into a coaching role in 1980 and named him manager of Class-A Anderson (S.C.) in 1982.
The Braves finished the 2025 season with a 76-86 record, the first season the club was under .500 since 2017.
