This story was originally published by Dead Spin
Only one home team out of four was able to win Game 1 of baseball’s wild-card round on Tuesday. That means three road teams can complete a sweep in Wednesday’s Game 2s.
The San Diego Padres were the only home team to thrive, and they will look to eliminate the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. The Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers are in win-or-else territory. That’s not good for the Orioles, who have lost nine straight playoff games during a streak that began in 2014.
It’s hard to fathom the Astros could be sent packing. But these surprising Detroit Tigers are just one victory away from winning a playoff series for the first time since 2013. About five Tigers would make the Houston roster.
While the home teams worry, we will analyze two MLB postseason games and an MLS match.
ATLANTA BRAVES AT SAN DIEGO PADRES
The Padres recorded a 4-0 victory over the Braves in Game 1 behind superb pitching and a monster homer by Fernando Tatis Jr. The ball was hit so far and so high that the airplanes that fly just north of Petco Park en route to Lindbergh Field were undoubtedly warned about the unknown flying object.
San Diego’s Joe Musgrove takes the mound for Game 2. Musgrove had a memorable start in the 2022 postseason when he gave up one hit over seven shutout innings, prompting New York Mets manager Buck Showalter to get the umpires to check Musgrove’s ears for a foreign substance in the sixth inning.
The Braves didn’t try anything that silly in Game 1, but their hitters combined for 15 strikeouts. They played a doubleheader Monday against the Mets in Atlanta, but the punchouts weren’t due to jet lag or sleepiness. San Diego’s Michael King was just that dominant.
Max Fried starts for Atlanta, and he was a first-round draft pick (No. 7 overall) by the Padres in 2012. The Braves acquired him two-plus years later, and he’s been a standout. Atlanta needs him to excel in what will be a low-scoring game.
Under 7 runs, -115 (DraftKings)
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KANSAS CITY ROYALS AT BALTIMORE ORIOLES
The Baltimore dynasty is having trouble gaining traction. The Orioles were swept in three games by the Texas Rangers in the American League Division Series last season and now could bow out in two.
Not being able to win on a day in which Corbin Burnes pitched into the ninth inning before being pulled from the 1-0 loss is a huge blow. Baltimore had to win that one, as Wednesday’s pitching matchup greatly favors the Royals and starter Seth Lugo.
Kansas City’s victory on Tuesday was its first since winning the World Series in 2015. The World Series MVP that year — Salvador Perez — was behind the plate for the Royals. They can start making his Hall of Fame plaque now.
Lugo went a career-best 16-9 this season, and Kansas City has AL MVP candidate Bobby Witt Jr. at shortstop. Sounds like a lot of pluses for the Royals. So guess what? Expect the Orioles to break that long skid.
Orioles moneyline, -148 (DraftKings)
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INTER MIAMI AT COLUMBUS CREW
Inter Miami have their eyes on claiming the Supporters’ Shield for the best regular-season record, but they keep being fit to be tied—literally. The Herons have played to a draw in each of their past three matches. They try again Wednesday against the Crew.
Lionel Messi has scored three goals in four matches since returning from the ankle injury he sustained in the Copa America finale in mid-July. He has only played in 16 MLS matches this season but has 15 goals and 15 assists.
Columbus is the defending MLS champion and a team that is ferocious at home with an 8-2-4 record. The Crew are second in the Eastern Conference behind Miami and can pull within five points with a win. Columbus star Cucho Hernandez has 16 goals, including one in each of his last three MLS matches.
Inter Miami defeated Columbus 2-1 on June 19 without Messi. And the club is also a solid 9-4-2 on the road. But the Crew aren’t interested in losing again… looks like another tie for the Herons.
Draw, +300 (FanDuel)
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