2026 MLB wild-card series Day 2: Live updates, lineups, analysis

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          Alec Bohm's solo dinger puts the Phillies ahead in the 10th (0:24)

          • ESPN
          Sep 30, 2026, 06:35 PM ET

          Who is ready for some more postseason baseball?

          The Philadelphia Phillies started things off with yet another dramatic comeback win to even the series against the Atlanta Braves and force Game 3. And don't worry -- there are three more games to go! Will the New York Yankees knock out the rival Boston Red Sox? Will the Chicago White Sox sweep the Houston Astros? And can the Chicago Cubs turn on their offense after they were shut out against the San Diego Padres?

          We've got you covered with pregame lineups, sights and sounds from the ballparks and postgame takeaways as each Day 2 matchup ends.

          Key links: Mega-preview | Bracket | Schedule

          Jump to:
          PHI-ATL | CHW-HOU | BOS-NYY | CHC-SD

          Sights and sounds

          We've got you covered with all the best moments from the ballparks on the second day of the playoffs.

          White Sox-Astros

          Follow live with pitch-by-pitch coverage

          Altuve joins the fun with Houston's third solo homer of the night

          Smith hits a blast for Astros' second run

          Houston answers with leadoff homer from Peña

          Not what Astros fans had in mind

          Make that four runs in the 1st!

          Takeaways

          Philadelphia Phillies 4, Atlanta Braves 3

          Series tied at 1-1

          It was over when ... It appeared to be over when Bryce Harper misplayed Drake Baldwin's relatively routine fly ball that turned into a generously-scored RBI single in the seventh inning to give the Braves a 2-1 lead (and they added another run). But then Kyle Schwarber and Harper hit back-to-back home runs in the eighth off Dylan Lee, who hadn't allowed a home run all season to a left-handed batter. Alec Bohm then hit the game-winning home run in the 10th off Didier Fuentes -- just Bohm's second opposite-field home run all season.

          And then it was actually finally over when Andrew Painter struck out Dominic Smith with two runners on in the bottom of the 10th -- on a walk-off challenge on the third strike. The Phillies' season is alive.

          Star who defined the game: The Phillies getting to Lee was the big shocker to begin with, and Bohm going to right field was also a shock, but the biggest shocker might have been Painter pitching the scoreless eighth, ninth and 10th innings for the Phillies. With Jhoan Duran having thrown 27 pitches on Tuesday and manager Don Mattingly not trusting anybody else in the bullpen -- which had the worst ERA in the majors in September -- he turned to his rookie, who had started in 23 of his 25 appearances. Gutsy call ... and it worked. -- David Schoenfield

          Key moments from Phillies' win

          Bohm's blast seals Phillies' 10-inning victory

          Philly evens the score with back-to-back homers

          Phillies get one back via a Schwarbomb

          Atlanta breaks through in 7th as Harper misplays ball in outfield

          Olson drives in Acuña to even the score

          Lineups and keys

          Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees

          New York leads 1-0

          8 p.m. ET

          Game 2 starters: Sonny Gray vs. Max Fried

          What the Red Sox need to do to force Game 3: For starters, scoring a run would help. And perhaps avoiding middle-middle fastballs to Ben Rice would do the trick. Beyond the obvious, though, the Red Sox need Sonny Gray to be who he was in his last wild-card round start in 2023, when he threw five scoreless innings for Minnesota. A lineup that was dead last in runs scored during September -- 71 in 24 games -- needs to find itself fast. Red Sox players exuded calm following their Game 1 loss, leaning on the previous holes this season that they've dug and climbed out of. This one, they know, is the most perilous yet: Max Fried on the mound, a Yankees lineup filled with left-handed hitters and 27 outs to save their season. -- Jeff Passan

          Lineups

          Red Sox
          1. Jahmai Jones (R) DH
          2. Adley Rutschman (S) C
          3. Willson Contreras (R) 1B
          4. Wilyer Abreu (L) RF
          5. Ceddanne Rafaela (R) CF
          6. Caleb Durbin (R) 3B
          7. Nick Sogard (S) 2B
          8. Trevor Story (R) SS
          9. Nate Eaton (R) LF

          Yankees
          1. Ben Rice (L) DH
          2. Cody Bellinger (L) LF
          3. Luis Garcia Jr. (L) 1B
          4. Spencer Jones (L) RF
          5. George Lombard Jr. (R) SS
          6. Jazz Chisholm Jr. (L) 2B
          7. Trent Grisham (L) CF
          8. Austin Wells (L) C
          9. Ryan McMahon (L) 3B

          Chicago Cubs vs. San Diego Padres

          San Diego leads 1-0

          10 p.m. ET

          Game 2 starters: Kevin Gausman vs. Nick Pivetta

          What the Cubs need to do to force Game 3: Score early. Michael King's gem in Game 1 meant Padres manager Craig Stammen didn't have to utilize Adrian Morejon or Mason Miller. By the time Game 2 rolls around, Morejon and Miller will be coming off three full days of rest, able to provide at least nine outs. No team scored more runs than the Cubs this season, and they'll have to show that against Nick Pivetta in Game 2. It will start, of course, with Pete Crow-Armstrong and Alex Bregman at the top of the lineup. King shut them down in Game 1, striking them out a combined five times. That can't happen again. In hopes of generating more offense, it'll be interesting to see if Bregman plays third base, which would allow the left-handed-hitting Michael Conforto to start at designated hitter. -- Alden Gonzalez

          Lineups

          Cubs
          1. Pete Crow-Armstrong (L) CF
          2. Alex Bregman (R) DH
          3. Michael Busch (L) 1B
          4. Seiya Suzuki (R) RF
          5. Ian Happ (S) LF
          6. Nico Hoerner (R) 2B
          7. Matt Shaw (R) 3B
          8. Carson Kelly (R) C
          9. Dansby Swanson (R) SS

          Padres
          1. Fernando Tatis Jr. (R) RF
          2. Dustin Harris (L) LF
          3. Manny Machado (R) 3B
          4. Ty France (R) 1B
          5. Jackson Merrill (L) CF
          6. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS
          7. Ethan Salas (L) C
          8. Austin Hays (R) DH
          9. Jake Cronenworth (L) 2B