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MLB playoff scores, live updates: Brewers avoid sweep as Padres, Tigers and Royals advance

The Padres closed out the Braves to end the night and complete a third sweep in the wild-card round

The second day of the 2024 MLB postseason was the first day of possible eliminations, thanks to the best-of-three format in the wild-card round.

The Tigers, Royals, Mets and Padres all took a huge step toward the Division Series with Game 1 wins on Tuesday, and they were looking to get an extra day's rest ahead of the Division Series, which get started on Saturday.

The Tigers and Royals started the day with a sweep each, ending the seasons of the Astros and Orioles to advance to the ALDS. On the NL side, the Brewers became the first team to force a Game 3 in the wild-card round with a thrilling win over the Mets. The Padres then closed out the night with a third sweep, defeating the Braves.

The Padres looked like they were going to cruise to a sweep after a dominant start Wednesday, but it just wasn't that easy.

The Padres, who put up five runs in the second on a Kyle Higashioka home run and two-RBI hits from Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill, held on down the stretch to claim a 5-4 win in Game 2 of their wild-card series. They had to fend off a late push from the Braves, who came within a run in the eighth on a two-run shot from Michael Harris, but that was as close as the Braves got.

The Padres, with the third sweep of the day, advance to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Last year's wild-card round consisted of four sweeps. The first two series of this year ended in sweeps (see below).

Jackson Chourio and Garrett Mitchell ensured that the Brewers didn't meet a similar fate. Chourio hit a leadoff home run, and then, with the Brewers down 3-2 in the eighth inning, he tied the game. A few batters later, Garrett Mitchell came through with a two-run homer to put his team on top in a 5-3 win.

The Brewers and Mets will meet in a winner-take-all Game 3 on Thursday in Milwaukee.

The Royals scored three runs total in the wild-card series and swept the Orioles.

After taking Game 1 with a 1-0 win, the Royals again showcased their impressive pitching staff in a 2-1 victory to complete a sweep in Baltimore. The scoring: singles from Vinnie Pasquantino and Bobby Witt Jr. to offset a Cedric Mullins homer.

The game was arguably decided in the fifth inning, when the Orioles got on the board with the Mullins homer, then loaded the bases with no outs against Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo. Kansas City brought in Angel Zerpa, who struck out Colton Cowser and got an Adley Rutschman groundout to keep the game tied.

The Detroit Tigers shocked the Houston Astros in the wild-card series on Wednesday, beating the AL juggernaut 5-2 on their home field to advance to the ALDS.

The Tigers struck first, with a Parker Meadows solo home run in the sixth inning, then survived a two-run Astros comeback in the seventh and broke out in the eighth to secure the win. After a series of missteps by Ryan Pressly and Josh Hader, Andy Ibáñez played the hero for Detroit with a bases-clearing double that gave the Tigers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

The Astros' elimination snaps their streak of seven straight ALCS appearances. The Tigers, meanwhile, have their first playoff series victory since 2013.

Here's a look at the wild-card schedule for Wednesday's Game 2s:

LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER89 updates
  • Final: Padres 5, Braves 4

    The Padres hang on to grab a one-run win and complete the sweep. The Braves, who snuck into the playoffs with their win in a doubleheader on Monday, will head home.

    It'll be Padres-Dodgers in the NLDS.

  • ATL-SD: Padres are 3 outs away

    The Padres head to the ninth with a 5-4 lead and are just three outs away from completing the sweep and setting up an NLDS vs. the Dodgers.

  • ATL-SD: Here come the Braves

    Well, there's the move the Braves needed. Michael Harris opened the eighth with a deep, two-run shot. The Padres now lead 5-4.

  • ATL-SD: Padres 5, Braves 2

    After three quick outs from Atlanta, we head to the eighth. If the Braves are going to make a move, it has to be now.

  • ATL-SD: Joe Musgrove out due to right elbow tightness

    We have official word on Joe Musgrove's early exit tonight.

  • NYM-MIL: Starting pitchers for Game 3

    It will be veteran Jose Quintana vs. rookie Tobias Myers in Game 3.

  • ATL-SD: Padres escape the 6th

    Though the Braves put two on base in the inning, Tanner Scott came in to get the Padres out of the inning without any damage. Their 5-2 lead holds as we go to the bottom of the sixth.

  • NYM-MIL: Brewers stave off elimination with 5-3 win

    The first two wild-card series ended in sweeps. This one will not. Behind clutch home runs from Jackson Chourio and Garrett Mitchell, the Brewers tie the series 1-1 and force a Game 3 on Thursday.

  • NYM-MIL: The Mets threw the one pitch you're not supposed to throw to Garrett Mitchell

    Garrett Mitchell's xSLG on four-seamers this season: .366

    Sliders: .233

    Sinkers: .192

    Changeups: .280

    Curveballs: .661

    You can probably guess which pitch Mets reliever Phil Maton threw to Mitchell on that homer.

  • NYM-MIL: Brewers take 5-3 lead on Garrett Mitchell HR

    Garrett Mitchell blows the roof off American Family Field with a two-run homer to take the lead. This is playoff baseball.

  • NYM-MIL: Jackson Chourio hits 2nd HR to tie the game

    Jackson Chourio is 20 year old. He has two homers tonight. The second one just tied the game 3-3.

  • ATL-SD: Padres 5, Braves 2

    Jorge Soler just hit a deep solo shot to cut into the Padres lead in the fifth.

  • NYM-MIL: Brewers on the ropes

    After a 1-2-3 seventh inning, the Brewers have six outs left to save their season.

  • ATL-SD: Padres pulling Musgrove

    Joe Musgrove's day is done. He's leaving the game with a trainer due to an apparent elbow injury. Bryan Hoeing will replace him now in the fourth.

  • NYM-MIL: Brewers escape bases-loaded jam

    The Mets had runners on second and third with two outs, then the bases loaded after an intentional walk of Francisco Lindor. The gamble paid off with a Joel Payamps strikeout of Jose Iglesias

  • NYM-MIL: Brewers get one back

    The Brewers cut into the deficit there in the fifth after a sac fly from Blake Perkins. The Mets lead 3-2 now headed into the sixth.

  • ATL-SD: Padres 5, Braves 1

    Make that two more for the Padres after a triple from Jackson Merrill that made it all the way to the center field wall. San Diego has completely broken this game open.

  • ATL-SD: Padres 3, Braves 1

    After Higashioka's home run, the Padres quickly loaded up the bases to set up a two RBI double from Manny Machado. That marked the fifth-straight two-out hit for San Diego.

    They're up 3-1 now in the second.

  • ATL-SD: Padres 1, Braves 1

    Just like that, we've got a tie game. Kyle Higashioka drilled a solo shot over the left field wall to put the Padres on the board in the second.

  • NYM-MIL: Sean Manaea still looks good

    After that first-inning Jackson Chourio homer, the Mets starter is going strong. He's at four innings, five hits, one earned run, no walks and four strikeouts on 68 pitches. Like Luis Severino in Game 1, any length for the Mets bullpen is good given how little time they've had off compared to their competition.

  • ATL-SD: Braves escape

    After letting the Padres load up the bases, Freid and the Braves somehow managed to escape without giving up a run.

    They lead 1-0 now after the first.

  • ATL-SD: Padres load up bases immediately

    This isn't going well for Max Fried and the Braves. He's just seven pitches in, and the Padres have already loaded up the bases.

  • NYM-MIL: Brewers pull starting pitcher Frankie Montas

    With a runner on second and two outs, the Brewers are pulling starting pitcher Frankie Montas for Trevor Megill. Montas' line: 3.2 innings, 6 hits, 3 runs (one earned), 1 walk, 3 strikeouts on 60 pitches. He's still responsible for the runner on second.

  • ATL-SD: Braves 1, Padres 0

    The Braves strike first. After a double from Michael Harris to open the night, Marcell Ozuna hit him with a perfect sac fly to put Atlanta up 1-0.

  • ATL-SD: Game 2 underway in San Diego

    ATL-SD: Game 2 underway in San Diego

    The final game of the night is now underway. Joe Musgrove is on the mound for San Diego to try and close the series out for the Padres, while Max Fried is getting the start for Atlanta.

  • NYM-MIL: Brewers fall short in the third inning

    Milwaukee got a pair of baseunners with one out against Sean Manaea, but a William Contreras strikeout and Willy Adames flyout ends the inning.

  • NYM-MIL: Francisco Lindor delivers a web gem

    The Mets shortstop made a heck of a play to throw out Brewers rookie Sal Frelick by a fraction of a second.

  • KC-BAL: Colton Cowser has a fractured hand

    It won't affect the rest of the playoffs, but Wednesday was not a good day for the Baltimore Orioles.

  • NYM-MIL: Frankie Montas ends the 2nd inning, but he's struggled

    Montas has allowed seven of his first 12 batters to reach base. Could be shaping up to be a de factor bullpen game for Milwaukee.

  • NYM-MIL: Mets take another lead after Brewers error

    Starling Marte reached base after Brewers pitcher Frankie Montas fumbled a throw to first, took third on a Tyrone Taylor single and scored on a Francisco Alvarez single. Then Francisco Lindor scores Taylor on a sac fly. It's 3-1 Mets.

  • NYM-MIL: Jackson Chourio ties it up with a HR

    The youngest player in MLB is having himself a series. After multiple RBI hits in Game 1, Jackson Chourio hits his first career playoff home run off Sean Manaea to the game 1-1.

  • NYM-MIL: Brewers end the inning on a Pete Alonso trip

    The Brewers escape the first via Pete Alonso, who hit a double-play ball, then tripped over his bat running to first. Two easy outs, and to the bottom of the first we go.

  • NYM-MKE: Mets up 1-0 early

    Brandon Nimmo gets the Mets on the board right away with a quick RBI single into right field.

  • KC-BAL: Royals finish the sweep

    The Royals scored three runs total this series. It was enough, thanks to an excellent pitching staff and some timely hitting. The Orioles' season is over.

  • NYM-MKE: Game 2 underway in Milwaukee

    NYM-MKE: Game 2 underway in Milwaukee

    The Mets and Brewers are officially underway at American Family Field. Sean Manaea is on the mound for the Mets to try and end the series early, and Frankie Montas will get the start for the Brewers.

  • KC-BAL: No insurance runs for the Royals

    The Royals will enter the bottom of the ninth with a 2-1 lead after going down in order. In comes Lucas Erceg to face Cedric Mullins, Ramón Urías and Gunnar Henderson.

  • KC-BAL: One more inning for the Orioles to make something happen

    The Orioles are coming down to their last three outs. A not-insignificant part of the eighth inning: Austin Slater's two-out single means Gunnar Henderson is guaranteed an at-bat in the ninth.

  • KC-BAL: Another scoreless inning for Orioles

    Anthony Santander hit a ball just shy of the warning track after a Jordan Westburg walk, but no further. The Orioles are now down 2-1 with two more innings to save their season.

  • KC-BAL: Colton Cowser out of the game with left hand pain

    Colton Cowser is out of the game an inning after he took a pitch to the hand (and struck out). After a scoreless sixth, the Orioles are three innings away from that being his last at-bat of the season.

  • KC-BAL: Yennier Cano ends the inning with the bases loaded

    Cano allowed a go-ahead single and walked Vinnie Pasquantino to load the bases, but he strikes out Salvador Perez to end the threat. Still 2-1 Royals, and the Orioles have four innings to save their season.

  • KC-BAL: Bobby Witt Jr. outruns the throw for the lead

    Witt hits a grounder up the middle, which Jordan Westburg makes a great play on, but the speedy Witt juuuust outruns the throw to first for an RBI single. It's 2-1 Royals in the top of the sixth.

  • KC-BAL: Orioles go for their second pitching change of the inning

    The Orioles brought in Cionel Perez with one out in the sixth inning, then brought in Yennier Cano after Perez allowed runners on the corners. Cano will face Bobby Witt Jr. with two outs.

    Also worth noting: the Orioles had a trained visit Colton Cowser and had him play catch during the pitching change. Cowser took that pitch to the hands last inning, but is staying in.

  • KC-BAL: The Royals escape a bases-loaded, no-out jam

    Rutschsman pulls a hard grounder, but Bobby Witt Jr. makes a great play and throws out the catcher. It is somehow still tied, and the Royals breathe a sigh of relief.

  • KC-BAL: Colton Cowser gets hit by a pitch ... and strikes out

    With a 1-2 count, Colton Cowser swings at a way inside pitch and takes it on his hands. That's a strikeout, and only the beginning of the pain for the rookie.

    That's two outs, and it will come down to Adley Rutschman.

  • KC-BAL: Lugo gets one out, then gets pulled

    That's one out for the Royals via an Anthony Santander pop-out (Santander wasn't happy when he saw where the ball went) and that will be it for Lugo. He will leave the game responsible for all three baserunners.

    In comes Angel Zerpa.

  • KC-BAL: Orioles load the bases

    It got real for Kansas City in a hurry. After the Mullins HR, Ramón Urías and Gunnar Henderson both reach base, then Lugo bobbles a potential double-play ball from Jordan Westburg. The O's have the bases loaded with no outs in a 1-1 game.

  • KC-BAL: Cedric Mullins ties it for the Orioles

    Cedric Mullins, at home plate, with the wood off a Lugo four-seamer. He worked the count full after falling behind 0-2 then crushed one 398 feet to right field. It's the first Orioles run of the series.

  • KC-BAL: Jacob Webb ends the KC threat

    Webb walked Yuli Gurriel to put a runner in scoring position then struck out MJ Melendez. To the bottom of the sixth we go.