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In his postseason debut, Shohei Ohtani played a pivotal role in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ comeback win against the San Diego Padres. Meanwhile, the New York Mets displayed their flair for late-inning heroics. The New York Yankees defeated the Kansas City Royals in a thrilling back-and-forth October showdown, while a powerful offensive performance from the Cleveland Guardians gave them an early edge in the Central Division battle.
Around the horn
Guardians 7, Tigers 0
What began as a tactical approach turned into a chaotic pitching situation for the Tigers. The Guardians capitalized with a five-run explosion in the first inning, overshadowing Detroit’s unconventional strategy. Pitcher Tyler Holton and reliever Reese Olson combined to concede five runs before even recording an out. This lead allowed Guardians starter Tanner Bibee and a dominant bullpen to dominate the game.
Mets 6, Phillies 2
Despite Zack Wheeler’s strong performance, the Phillies’ bullpen faltered. The Mets did not record any extra-base hits, but they managed to string together eight singles at the right moments, scoring five runs in the eighth inning and adding one more in the ninth for insurance. Kodai Senga’s return was promising, and the Mets’ bullpen effectively shut down the Phillies.
Yankees 6, Royals 5
In a postseason first, the Royals and Yankees exchanged the lead five times. [Insert Jayson Stark voice: Because baseball!] Ultimately, New York found itself on the right side of a contentious replay ruling just before the unlikely hero, Alex Verdugo, delivered the game-winning single.
Dodgers 7, Padres 5
GO DEEPER
Is Yoshinobu Yamamoto tipping his pitches?
GO DEEPER
Is Yoshinobu Yamamoto tipping his pitches?
Three up
Alex Verdugo
Verdugo stepped onto the field to a chorus of boos from Yankees fans but ultimately became the hero of Game 1. The left fielder delivered a crucial seventh-inning RBI single that secured the winning run, finishing the evening with a 2-for-3 performance that featured a walk, two runs, and two solid defensive plays. Despite experiencing a subpar offensive season, Verdugo was not expected to start Game 1 over rookie Jasson Domínguez. However, manager Aaron Boone indicated that choosing Verdugo was a “fairly” straightforward choice due to his experience. Boone’s intuition proved correct.
Mets lineup
In a standard baseball game, which lasts nine innings, teams have the opportunity to score at any moment. However, the Mets seem to have a preference for scoring late and in clusters. Only two teams outpaced them in runs scored during the eighth and ninth innings throughout the regular season. After clinching a series victory over the Brewers with four runs in the ninth inning, they duplicated this feat by scoring five runs in the eighth inning to win Game 1 against the Phillies. It’s challenging to secure a championship without significant late-game offense, and the Mets are currently exuding confidence in that aspect.
Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani made his postseason debut on Saturday, which certainly garnered attention. While he could have concluded the game with a 1-for-4 record, including a single or a couple of strikeouts, he instead electrified the crowd at Dodger Stadium with a spectacular hit. The Padres established an early three-run lead in the first inning, maintaining their momentum from the previous series against the Braves, while the Dodgers were coming off a week of inactivity. The longer the Padres held the lead, the more pressure mounted on the Dodgers, who were seeking their own momentum. However, with one swing, Ohtani equalized the game, reminding everyone that the Dodgers were meant to be the dominant force. Although momentum is truly only as strong as the starting pitcher for the next game, it’s still advantageous when it can be harnessed.
Shohei Ohtani celebrates after hitting a homer alongside teammates Will Smith and Gavin Lux. (Daniel Shirey / MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Three down
Tigers Relievers
The “pitching chaos” of the Tigers has proven to be an effective approach, allowing them to make an unexpected advancement to the ALDS. However, with their opener Tyler Holton and bulk pitcher Reese Olson yielding five runs against the Guardians without recording an out, one cannot help but ponder how much stronger the Tigers might be if they had an additional traditional starter to pair with ace Tarik Skubal. Perhaps someone like Jack Flaherty, who is slated to start Game 2 for the Dodgers in the NLDS on Sunday. (It’s worth noting that the Tigers traded Flaherty to the Dodgers before reviving their season, which could lead to future regrets).
Phillies Bullpen
The Phillies’ bullpen was anticipated to be a strong point, and there’s potential for it to still shine during the postseason. However, in Game 1, it was far from that. Jeff Hoffman failed to retire any of the three hitters he encountered. Meanwhile, Matt Strahm, who permitted only two earned runs over 79 batters in August and September, surrendered the same amount in just three batters during Game 1. Consequently, the Mets exploded for five runs in the eighth inning, leaving the Phillies unable to bounce back. This exemplifies the unpredictability of teams that believe they possess a reliable bullpen – it may appear so until a harsh reality sets in. October often offers a cruel twist like that.
Royals Replay Review
Enter the debate surrounding alleged MLB-New York bias. The Royals had opportunities to secure an upset in Game 1, but a contentious call may have thwarted their efforts. After starting the seventh with a single, Jazz Chisholm Jr. attempted to steal second. Salvador Perez’s high throw resulted in Chisholm being ruled safe. The Royals, however, requested a review. A TBS broadcast angle suggested that Michael Massey tagged him out in time, but the safe ruling remained. Chisholm eventually scored the decisive run on Verdugo’s hit. Following the defeat, Royals manager Matt Quatraro expressed that he had a clear view of the play, asserting, “I believe we had a compelling case for that call to be overturned.” Conversely, Chisholm stated, “I was confident I was safe.”
Jazz Chisholm Jr. was ruled safe — a decision the Royals contested. (Luke Hales / Getty Images)
On deck Sunday
Mets at Phillies, 4:08 p.m. (ET), Fubo, FS1
Mets lead series 1-0
NYM Luis Severino (11-7, 3.19 ERA) vs. PHI Christopher Sánchez (11-9, 3.32 ERA)
Padres at Dodgers, 8:03 pm (ET), Fubo, FS1
Dodgers lead series 1-0
SDP Yu Darvish (7-3, 3.31 ERA) vs. LAD Jack Flaherty (13-7, 3.17 ERA)
Stream all the MLB playoffs on Fubo (try for free)
Picks to click
Yu Darvish vs. Dodgers
Throughout his career, Yu Darvish has faced the Dodgers in 15 starts, all occurring after his departure from the team in 2017. His statistics in these matchups include a 5-5 record with a 2.27 ERA and 104 strikeouts over 91 1/3 innings. His most recent appearance against them was on May 12, during which he delivered seven scoreless innings, confronting 24 batters and permitting only three to reach base. Among the current Dodgers players, only Freddie Freeman (.848 OPS in 39 PA) and Tommy Edman (six singles in 16 PA) have had even moderate success facing Darvish. The remainder of the roster hasn’t fared nearly as well.
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Yu Darvish pitching earlier this season. (Denis Poroy / USA Today)
