The 2023 MLB Postseason gained two more participants on Tuesday night. Both the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies punched their tickets to the MLB Playoffs, but the two teams did so in different ways.
The Chicago Cubs lost a heartbreaker on Tuesday night and with the Arizona Diamondbacks boat racing the Chicago White Sox, the NL Wild Card chase has become much more interesting with less than a week to go.
But with five days remaining in the regular season, the American League West has yet to be decided and there are three teams who could actually win the division. Wednesday's action is going to be bonkers.
MLB Postseason news: Phillies and Brewers clinch
The Philadelphia Phillies will get the chance to defend their National League crown after successfully knocking off their in-state rival, the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night in walk-off fashion. Philadelphia has secured a spot in the MLB Postseason and will host a Wild Card Series at Citizen's Bank Park.
The Phillies had no chance to catch the Atlanta Braves in the NL East, but Rob Thomson's team did enough to secure the first NL Wild Card spot. If the playoffs began today, Philadelphia would host the Arizona Diamondbacks who picked up a game on the Chicago Cubs in the NL Wild Card race.
The Milwaukee Brewers have been playing good baseball of late. And while Craig Counsell's squad didn't get the win on Tuesday night against the St. Louis Cardinals, the collapse by the Cubs enabled the Brewers to pop the champagne after winning the NL Central Division.
Milwaukee will host the final NL Wild Card team next week. At the moment, there's a three-team pileup with the Cubs holding a half-game edge over the Miami Marlins and a 1.5-game advantage over the Cincinnati Reds.
MLB Postseason news: Cubs drop the ball vs. Braves
Oh my. The Chicago Cubs will be kicking themselves after losing a backbreaker on Tuesday night in Atlanta. The Braves overcame a 6-0 deficit to take Game 1 of a three-game affair with the Cubbies, and a misplayed ball in the eighth inning cost Chicago big time.
After Atlanta had already clawed their way back to within one run of the lead, Braves catcher Sean Murphy sent a routine fly ball into right field. Seiya Suzuki called off centerfielder Cody Bellinger and inexplicably dropped the ball.
Suzuki's error allowed the Braves two base runners to cross home plate and Atlanta took a one-run lead. Manager Brian Snitker handed the ball to Raisel Iglesias in the ninth and the Braves closer shut the door as the Cubs fell 7-6.
This one might linger for awhile. With the Miami Marlins playing a doubleheader today in New York, by the time Chicago takes the field tonight, the Fish could be tied with the Cubs for the final Wild Card spot in the National League.
The Cincinnati Reds also took home a win last night over the Cleveland Guardians, and while David Bell's club is very much on the outside looking in, that number has shrunk to just 1.5 games. The Cubs are in trouble.
If the Chicago Cubs can't right the ship at Truist Park tonight, fans could wake up tomorrow morning with a half-game separating all three teams in the chase for the final NL Wild Card spot.
MLB Postseason news: AL West race tightens
The Seattle Mariners, behind a brilliant outing from George Kirby, got one back from the Houston Astros on Tuesday night. Kirby shut down the Astros' bats and the M's won 6-2 despite being outhit by Houston.
The rubber match between these two teams takes place today with Framber Valdez going up against Bryce Miller. The Mariners already own the tiebreaker over the Astros, so Houston really needs to get the W tonight in Seattle.
But Reid Detmers kept hope alive for both the Mariners and Astros after taking care of the Texas Rangers lineup on Tuesday night. The Los Angeles Angels starter allowed just one run through seven innings of work, and the Halos dropped the Rangers by a final of 9-3.
So, with just a few days left in the 2023 regular season, only three games separate all three teams. The Mariners and Astros close out their season series today, before Texas and Seattle lock horns this weekend in what could be a pivotal series at T-Mobile Park.
The Houston Astros won't get a walk in the park either, as the Arizona Diamondbacks play host to Dusty Baker and the defending World Champions with playoff aspirations of their own. This race to finish line in the AL West is tightening up.
