Daily Double Play: Your MLB Update

## Wild Card Series Conclusions
Major League Baseball’s Wild Card rounds concluded on October 2, 2025, as both deciding contests produced definitive outcomes that set the brackets for the American and National League Division Series. In the American League, the Detroit Tigers completed a remarkable turnaround by defeating the Cleveland Guardians 6–3 in Game 3 of their best-of-three Wild Card Series, overcoming a division lead deficit of 15½ games to advance to the ALDS for the second straight season ([heraldstaronline.com](https://www.heraldstaronline.com/sports/local-sports/2025/10/tigers-beat-guardians-6-3-to-win-wild-card-series-reach-the-alds/?utm_source=openai)). Meanwhile, in the National League, the Chicago Cubs downed the San Diego Padres by a 3–1 margin in their deciding Game 3 at Wrigley Field, marking the Cubs’ first postseason series victory since 2017 and ending an NL Central drought that dated to 2019 ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_National_League_Wild_Card_Series)). These results set the stage for the ALDS, where the Tigers will travel to Seattle, and the NLDS, which will feature a crosstown Central Division rivalry between the Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers.

## American League Wild Card Game 3: Tigers 6, Guardians 3
In Cleveland’s Progressive Field on October 2, the Tigers struck first in the third inning when designated hitter Kerry Carpenter lobbed a two-out grounder down the line that ricocheted off first baseman C.J. Kayfus’s glove, allowing Riley Greene to score from third ([heraldstaronline.com](https://www.heraldstaronline.com/sports/local-sports/2025/10/tigers-beat-guardians-6-3-to-win-wild-card-series-reach-the-alds/?utm_source=openai)). The Guardians countered in the fourth on José Ramírez’s run-scoring single off Tigers starter Jack Flaherty, who had been exceptional in the regular season comeback but yielded one run over 4⅔ innings with nine strikeouts and two walks ([espn.com.sg](https://www.espn.com.sg/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401809253?utm_source=openai)). Detroit regained the lead in the sixth when backstop Dillon Dingler blasted a tiebreaking solo homer, his first of the series, deep to right-center ([heraldstaronline.com](https://www.heraldstaronline.com/sports/local-sports/2025/10/tigers-beat-guardians-6-3-to-win-wild-card-series-reach-the-alds/?utm_source=openai)). The decisive blow came in the seventh inning: Wenceel Pérez, moved to the three-hole for the must-win contest, ripped a two-run single, and Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene followed with run-scoring hits to extend the margin to 6–1 ([heraldstaronline.com](https://www.heraldstaronline.com/sports/local-sports/2025/10/tigers-beat-guardians-6-3-to-win-wild-card-series-reach-the-alds/?utm_source=openai)).

On the mound, Kyle Finnegan was credited with the win after retiring all four batters he faced in relief, while Jesús López and José Cisnero polished off the final outs for Detroit ([espn.com.sg](https://www.espn.com.sg/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401809253?utm_source=openai)). Jack Flaherty’s ability to tame a potent Guardians lineup for most of his start underscored his value despite a challenging 8–15 record in the regular season ([nypost.com](https://nypost.com/2025/10/03/betting/stitches-predicted-struggling-tigers-would-advance-and-they-did/?utm_source=openai)). For Cleveland, Slade Cecconi and the bullpen were unable to contain Detroit’s late-game surge. With this win, the Tigers advance to face the Seattle Mariners in the best-of-five ALDS beginning October 4.

## Analysis of Tigers’ Resilience
Detroit’s playoff-clinching performance capped a season defined by extremes: an arduous collapse of a 15½-game division lead, followed by a resilient surge to win consecutive elimination games on the road ([nypost.com](https://nypost.com/2025/10/03/betting/stitches-predicted-struggling-tigers-would-advance-and-they-did/?utm_source=openai)). A.J. Hinch, reflecting on the victory, praised his team’s “built-in confidence from having nothing to lose” and credited veteran contributions alongside emergent talents like Dingler and Pérez ([blessyouboys.com](https://www.blessyouboys.com/detroit-tigers-news/82699/mlb-news-tigers-win-al-wild-card-managerial-shuffles-dillon-dingler?utm_source=openai)). Jack Flaherty’s veteran poise, combined with bullpen reliability from Finnegan, Cisnero, and Kyle Finneran, provided a blueprint for postseason success, setting up an ALDS matchup that will test their mettle against the American League West champion Mariners.

## National League Wild Card Game 3: Cubs 3, Padres 1
At Wrigley Field on October 2, the Cubs showcased a balanced attack against San Diego. In the bottom of the second inning, Pete Crow-Armstrong delivered an RBI single scoring Kyle Tucker, and Dansby Swanson’s bases-loaded walk plated Seiya Suzuki for a 2–0 lead ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_National_League_Wild_Card_Series)). Yu Darvish’s brief outing—he was removed after one inning having allowed two earned runs on four hits—mirrored his own historic shortcoming in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_National_League_Wild_Card_Series)). Meanwhile, Jameson Taillon authored four shutout innings in relief, scattering two hits and striking out four before handing off to the bullpen ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_National_League_Wild_Card_Series)).

Chicago added an insurance run in the seventh when rookie Michael Busch homered off Robert Suárez, his first postseason long ball, deep beyond the ivy in left ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_National_League_Wild_Card_Series)). San Diego scratched across a run in the ninth via Jackson Merrill’s solo homer, but closer Andrew Kittredge induced a game-ending double play to preserve the 3–1 victory and secure the series triumph ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_National_League_Wild_Card_Series)). Cubs manager Craig Counsell lauded his “battle-tested group” for its poise, while the Padres decried a controversial called-strike in the ninth that sparked dugout dissent—an incident highlighting the push for Automated Balls and Strikes technology ([nypost.com](https://nypost.com/2025/10/03/sports/padres-in-ugly-dugout-confrontation-with-umpires-after-brutal-call-helps-end-season/?utm_source=openai)).

## Standout Performances and Historical Notes
Michael Busch’s solo homer not only provided crucial cushion but also marked the first postseason homer of his career; it came in his first season with over 25 homers during the regular year ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_National_League_Wild_Card_Series)). Jameson Taillon’s efficient relief outing—zero runs allowed over four innings with four strikeouts—illustrated the depth of Chicago’s pitching staff, which combined for innings of scoreless relief in all three games of the series ([cbssports.com](https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametracker/recap/MLB_20251002_SD%40CHC/?utm_source=openai)). For the Padres, Yu Darvish’s short outing (1.0 IP, 2 ER, 1 K) was a lowlight in an otherwise strong 90-win campaign that fell short of October success ([cbssports.com](https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametracker/recap/MLB_20251002_SD%40CHC/?utm_source=openai)).

## Upcoming Division Series Matchups
With the Wild Card rounds complete, the ALDS opens on Saturday, October 4, when the Seattle Mariners host the Detroit Tigers at T-Mobile Park at 8:38 p.m. ET. Seattle’s 51–30 home record and league-high 238 home runs contrast with Detroit’s 41–40 road mark and potent lineup that averaged 1.2 homers per game ([foxsports.com](https://www.foxsports.com/articles/mlb/seattle-mariners-host-the-detroit-tigers-in-alds-game-1?utm_source=openai)). Manager Scott Servais will lean on his rested rotation and a bullpen boasting a 2.94 ERA, while the Tigers counter with Tarik Skubal and Jack Flaherty set to head multiple games ([lookoutlanding.com](https://www.lookoutlanding.com/series-previews/135380/alds-division-series-preview-seattle-mariners-vs-detroit-tigers-october-2025?utm_source=openai)).

In the National League, the Chicago Cubs will face their NL Central rival Milwaukee Brewers in a series that promises intense familiarity. Milwaukee’s 97-65 record granted them a first-round bye and home-field in the NLDS, pitting them against a Cubs team buoyed by its first postseason series win since 2017 ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_National_League_Wild_Card_Series)). Both Division Series matchups begin October 4, setting the stage for October baseball drama as teams vie for league pennants.