MLB Wild Card series Reach Decisive Game 3s: Playoff Schedule for Thursday
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The 2025 MLB playoffs are poised for a thrilling conclusion too the wild-card round, with three pivotal Game 3 matchups scheduled for Thursday after dramatic wins by the Cleveland Guardians, San Diego Padres, and New York Yankees on Wednesday. The stakes are high as teams battle for a coveted spot in the Division Series. Thursday’s action will determine the final two teams to join the Los Angeles Dodgers – the only team to sweep their wild-card series – in advancing to the next stage of the postseason.
AL Wild Card: Tigers vs. Guardians Set for Showdown
the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians will face off in a decisive Game 3, with the winner earning a trip to the American League Division Series (ALDS) to challenge the Seattle Mariners. The series is currently tied 1-1 after the Guardians rallied for a 6-1 victory in Game 2.A late-inning surge, ignited by a Brayan Rocchio home run, propelled Cleveland to victory. Following Rocchio’s homer, Bo Naylor sealed the win with a three-run blast.
On the mound Thursday, the Tigers will send Jack Flaherty, while the Guardians will counter with Slade Cecconi. This matchup promises a tense battle as both teams aim to close out the series.
Padres Keep series Alive, Face Cubs in Game 3
In the National League, the San diego Padres staved off elimination with a 3-0 win over the Chicago Cubs, forcing a Game 3. Yu Darvish and jameson Taillon are slated to start for their respective teams in the crucial contest. The Padres’ victory came despite the Cubs utilizing six pitchers in an attempt to contain the San Diego offense, particularly Manny Machado and his teammates. Machado’s 416-foot home run proved to be a key moment in Wednesday’s win.
Yankees and Red Sox Renew Rivalry in High-Stakes Game 3
The historic rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees will reach a fever pitch in Game 3,with Connelly Early and Cam Schlittler taking the pitching reins. The Yankees forced the deciding game after a dramatic comeback, fueled by Jazz chisholm Jr., who scored the winning run after being benched in Game 1.The outcome of this game will determine which team advances.
Dodgers Advance to NLDS, dominating Reds in sweep
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the first team to secure their spot in the NLDS, having swept the Cincinnati Reds in a dominant two-game series, outscoring their opponents 18-9. The Dodgers’ success was a team effort, led by a stellar performance from Mookie Betts, who batted .667 throughout the series. Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández also contributed with two home runs each. On the mound, Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto were exceptional, each recording over 20 outs and earning a win with impressive strikeout rates of 11.6 and 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings,respectively. The Dodgers will now face the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS.
Thursday’s Schedule:
- No. 6 Detroit Tigers vs. no. 3 Cleveland Guardians – Live on ABC
- No. 5 San Diego Padres vs. No.4 Chicago Cubs – 5:08 p.m. ET on ESPN
- No. 5 Boston Red Sox vs.No. 4 New York Yankees – 8:08 p.m. ET on ESPN
Fans can follow live updates, highlights, and more throughout the day with a dedicated [MLB wild-card Game 3 live blog](link to live blog). The final matchups of the wild-card round promise to deliver unforgettable moments and set the stage for an exciting postseason.
