The MLB postseason kicked off on Tuesday, featuring eight teams in Game 1 of the NL and AL Wild Card series.
The day was marked by impressive pitching performances, as two teams achieved shutout victories and one pitcher, in particular, furthered his bid for this year’s American League Cy Young Award.
Here are the key highlights from Tuesday’s games.
King’s stellar performance led the Padres to a historic win
A dominant performance by starter Michael King led the San Diego Padres to a 4-0 shutout victory over the Atlanta Braves in the largest crowd in Petco Park history.
The match had 47,647 spectators. King allowed five hits, no runs and 12 strikeouts over seven innings. This made him the first pitcher in MLB history to allow no runs or walks while striking out 12 in his first postseason game.
The 29-year-old King was a surprise pick for Game 1, especially after serving as the full-time starter in his first regular season. He arrived in San Diego following a trade deal that saw Juan Soto go to the New York Yankees.
“I tried to take advantage of the pressure in my mindset,” King said after the match. “The sound of the crowd and the importance of the postseason games affected my mood.”
King’s performance has seen the Padres continue their excellent run of form. Since the All-Star Game, San Diego has compiled a record of 43-20, and now the team needs to continue this form for its first World Series title.
Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a two-run home run on Tuesday, giving the Padres a 2-0 lead in the opening inning. Kyle Higashioka made it 3-0 in the second inning with a sac fly to bring home Jake Cronenworth.
In the eighth, Higashioka completed the scoring with a solo home run to left.
“The stadium we’re playing in is pretty loud,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “And it’s great to be on our side.”
The New York Mets pulled off a comeback win over the Brewers
The New York Mets made their second major comeback in two days for a possible chance to advance in the National League Division Series.
Despite trailing 2-0 through the first three innings and 4-3 after the fourth, the Mets rallied with five crucial runs in the fifth inning to an 8-4 victory over the NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field.
It’s been a season of clutch wins for the Mets, including Francisco Lindor’s ninth-inning homer on Monday to lift New York to an 8-7 victory that sent them into the postseason.
This year, New York has bounced back in a big way, coming off a 22-33 opening record to make the playoffs. The Brewers got off to a good start on Tuesday, scoring two runs in the first inning with a double and two singles.
The Mets answered right back, with Jesse Winker hitting a two-run triple against his old team, followed by Starling Marte’s sac fly to give the Mets the lead.
This did not last long. In the fourth inning, Jackson Chourio’s RBI double was followed by William Contreras’ ground out to put the Brewers ahead.
As the Mets struggled in the fifth inning, they made a crucial error in a home run by Jose Iglesias. Reaching first on a stalled line drive brought home Tyrone Taylor to tie the game.
“That was probably the biggest turning point in the game,” designated hitter JD Martinez said, according to MLB.com. Immediately after that, you see an increase in speed.”
Two-run singles by Mark Vientos and Martinez gave the Mets an 8-4 lead, and they did not yield a hit or walk over the next four innings. The Brewers have now lost 10 of their last 11 postseason games.
Impressive performances by Tarik Skubal and Cole Ragans
Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal has had an impressive start to the postseason, after earning the Triple Crown in 2024 in wins, ERA and strikeouts.
The 27-year-old left-hander, who is the leading favorite for the AL Cy Young Award, allowed four hits, one walk and six strikeouts in six scoreless innings. This gave Detroit a 3-1 win over the Houston Astros. “It was a good challenge,” he said after the game. “It was a lot of fun. I was very happy. Since my debut, I was probably the most nervous, so it was also fun to deal with.”
At the same time, Cole Ragans of the Kansas City Royals recorded a 1-0 shutout victory over the Baltimore Orioles. It was the Ragans’ first playoff game and Kansas City’s first since winning the World Series in 2015.
The Ragans didn’t look nervous on the mound; He recorded four hits, one walk and eight strikeouts in six innings. “Yeah, there was adrenaline,” Ragans said with a laugh. “The first innings was a bit challenging, but I think I controlled well.”
The playoffs continue on Wednesday, and each team will meet again in Game 2.