The playoff bracket:
The AL Wild Card Game:
So the Rays will be facing the Jays after a shockingly good performance from Aaron Nola, holding the Yankees to one hit over seven innings (although he walked 5). I was expecting an 8-5 game or something here. Vlad Jr had a 2-run shot in the first inning off Gerrit Cole, and after a couple of walks, Gurriel knocked in the 3rd run and we stayed at 3-0 until Luke Voit homered with 2 out in the 9th off Keith Ginkel. Toronto gets revenge for the Yankees knocking them off in last year's ALDS.
The NL Wild Card Game:
A 2-2 pitchers' duel between 21-game winner Corbin Martin for Arizona and perennial Atlanta ace Mike Soroka was broken open in the 8th inning after D-backs 1B Pavin Smith booted a grounder and Ozzie Albies doubled the man home, and then was wild pitched home. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman then followed with HRs off Connor Grammes to put it out of reach for Arizona, although Eduardo Escobar did homer off Atlanta closer and winning pitcher Will Smith. Earlier, Ray-for-a-month-last-year Mitch Haniger had a HR for the D-backs. Atlanta will now face the mighty Mets and their trio of 20-game winners.
And in other news, congrats to Seth Beer for being named the International League MVP. I swear he's going to get first crack at being our DH next year. Really.
