Day 3 of the MLB Playoffs.
MAYHEM, PANDEMONIUM, THE 2025 MLB WILD CARD SERIES. What a time to be watching baseball. All 4 of the Wild Card series were exciting to watch for different reasons. Great defense, great pitching, young up-and-coming talents, and some amazing veteran players… these series had everything. It’s amazing that the playoffs go on for another 3 weeks before we even touch the World Series.
This was the first year that we’ve had multiple game 3’s in a Wild Card series since the Wild Card became a 3 game-series in 2020. There was a lot of baseball the past few days, and here’s a recap of all of the game 3s that we had today.
Tigers vs Guardians
I thought this was a good game. Jack Flaherty took the mound for the Tigers and went 4.2 innings allowing one earned run but had 4 strikeouts. I could have seen Flaherty staying in the game longer, but Manager AJ Hinch had a good gameplan here. The Guardians went with Slade Cecconi and he worked through 2.1 innings before being pulled. He only gave up one earned run but was in danger in the third innings before Tim Herrin came in and shut the inning down. Coming into this game, I knew it was going to be a story of the bullpens. The Tigers got a little bit more from their starter, and It helped the team manage their gameplan a little easier.
I could say I had issues with the Guardians choice of relievers… but honestly, I didn’t. I thought the set up of each reliever was perfect. Joey Cantillo had started games towards the end of the season and had long-relief experience. Manager Stephen Vogt had even talked about on the ABC/ESPN Broadcast that they put Cantillo in knowing he could go multiple innings. It was part of the plan. However, once Cantillo gave up the home run to Dillon Dingler, I wasn’t surprised he would be taken out the next inning. Erik Sabrowski came in and gave up 2 runs, but he had a great season in which he had a 1.84 ERA. He was in Vogt’s circle of trust. So was Hunter Gaddis, but he gave up 2 runs as well. Matt Festa, Jakob Junis, and Cam Smith all held the Tigers scoreless and did a great job at the back-end of the game. The pitching aspect of this game was so well planned out, but in order for the plan to go well, the players have to execute. The Guardians just fell a little short of that here.
Now, the Tigers bullpen was dynamite. Unbelievable performance put together for the most part, besides the Will Vest error, the Guardians were held scoreless over 5 innings. Tommy Kahnle, Kyle Finnegan, and Tyler Holton were able to get anyone out. A great gameplan executed by AJ Hinch and it was executed by the Tigers. The coaching didn’t lose the Guardians the game… the execution of the gameplan did.
I was also a bit tough on Chase Delauter and wondered why he made his MLB debut yesterday in Game 2. Delauter got his first MLB hit in game 3 and defensively looked good. I think he had tremendous upside. This was an exciting series, and will be a great battle for the division again next year!
Cubs vs Padres
I’m a big Cubs fan, so I’ll try to be as unbiased as possible. My first issue with the coaching in this game was the fact that Yu Darvish started over Michael King. King had an ERA this season almost 2 points lower than Darvish. I understand that Yu Darvish performed better in the postseason last year and had a good postseason track record. Recency bias is a thing, but in this case, it wasn’t just recency… It was a season wide observation that Michael King was better suited to start this game. Okay… enough of that. Yu Darvish took the mound against his former team and only lasted 1 inning before giving up 2 earned runs. This could have been a lot worse, but Jeremiah Estrada came in and shut down the bases loaded situation. If you asked me before the game if I thought the Cubs would win and they only scored 1 run off of the bullpen, I’d probably have said they lost.
The Padres held the Cubs to only 1 run across 8 innings to a home run by Michael Busch. For the most part, the Padres bullpen was fantastic. However, the bullpen and the starter, Jameson Taillon, for the Cubs were better. In only his second postseason start, Taillon went 4 innings, (I’d argue he could have stayed in longer, but I didn’t dislike the move to take him out) and struck out 4 batters, only giving up 2 hits. The ensemble of Caleb Thielbar, Daniel Palencia, Drew Pomeranz, Brad Keller, and Andrew Kittredge held the Padres to only one run, a home run in the 9th off of Keller by Jackson Merrill.
My issue with the pitching decisions here was one for each side. Robert Suarez gave up a home run and a double to start the 7th, but I don’t think Suarez should have been out there in the first place. Suarez faced 5 batters in the 6th inning and is a standard closer. I didn’t understand why Manager Mike Schildt didn’t lean on his other bullpen arms. The Cubs almost blew the game in the 9th after Brad Keller gave up a home run and then hit two batters. It should have been bases loaded, but Keller was bailed out of a walk when the umpire called strike three. Everyone I’ve talked to has been enraged by that call, even Cubs fans are confused by that call. Brad Keller showed nerves in the 8th inning. Andrew Kittredge and Matthew Boyd were up in the bullpen before the home run was even hit. I would have taken Keller out as soon as the home run was hit. Anything can happen in the playoffs, and with two runners on base… one swing, one bad pitch, could have flipped the script and had the Padres in the lead. I’d also argue that Matthew Boyd should have been in to start the inning. Jackson Merrill, a lefty, was leading off. Typically coaches want to go after the lefty vs lefty matchup. Manager Craig Counsell did not.
This would be a great time to mention that the Cubs defense was pivotal in this series. Low scoring games always have moments that you go back to and say… that was a game changer. Dansby Swanson made multiple game changing plays. Nico Hoerner made multiple game changing plays. Pete Crow-Armstrong made multiple game changing plays. (Fernando Tatis also made a few really good plays.) We also finally saw Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, and Kyle Tucker hit the ball this game 3 and that was a huge weight taken off the shoulders of not only the players, but the whole fan base. This was a really fun series to watch if you were really interested in good coaching, good pitching, and really exciting moments.
Yankees vs Red Sox
Is there anything I need to say besides Cam Schlittler? Oh my goodness man. He’s a rookie but pitched today like a 10 year veteran with 10 seasons of postseason ball under his belt. Schlittler racked in 12 strikeouts over 8 innings. Yes, EIGHT innings. We hadn’t seen anyone reach the 8th inning in a postseason start this year. I had a friend tell me “Let him finish this game out. He can do it.” If you had asked me before the game if I could believe that Schlittler could shut down the Red Sox for an entire game, I’d say you were insane. I am certified insane for not believing in this kid. On the other side of the field was Connelly Early, who is 23 years old. WHAT. It’s a matchup of Crochet and Fried, just a few years earlier. Early was great in the first three innings before getting roughed up in the 4th for 3 earned runs and 4 overall. The bullpens were fanatics. Both teams shut down the hitters, minus the 4th inning for the Red Sox.
I can’t even point to a part of the game that didn’t make sense as a coach. Everything just flowed and was well done. I guess manager Alex Cora could have taken Early out sooner… maybe? He gave up a double to Cody Bellinger, then walked Giancarlo Stanton, followed by striking out Ben Rice. A ground ball gets you out of this inning, but Amed Rosario hit a single and a run scored. Runners on first and second, again, a ground ball gets you out of it. Jazz Chisholm hits a single and now an inning that seemed under control is unraveling with the bases loaded and one out. But still… a ground ball will most likely get you out of the inning, and Early had only given up one run. Then Anthony Volpe hit another single, followed by Austin Wells’ single and an error on Nathaniel Lowe… it was 4-0. Ultimately, the only issue I had was leaving a rookie starter out there as long as Cora did. I can also justify why Early was left in.
Manager Aaron Boone also had Jazz Chisholm and Ben Rice in the lineup, despite Early being a lefty. This was huge as Jazz Chisholm produced a hit during that 4th inning, but also because both Rice and Chisholm are huge for the morale of the team and the vibe of the stadium. Kids love those players and it was huge that Boone was able to adapt his game plan and start them after not doing that in the first game. I think this game was just Aaron Boone adjusting his team and relying on their abilities. He didn’t change his lineup like he did in game 1, he just trusted. Trusting your players is a huge testament to great coaches.
Ian Ryan Wild Card Awards:
Most Outstanding Field Player – Player who meant most to his team as a batter and fielder
Most Outstanding Pitcher – Starter or Reliever who had the biggest impact on the series
Tigers vs Guardians –
Most Outstanding Field Player – Kerry Carpenter (4/10, 3 walks, 1 RBI, 2 Runs)
Most Outstanding Pitcher – Tarik Skubal (Win, 7.2 Innings, 14 K’s)
Cubs vs Padres –
Most Outstanding Field Player – Nico Hoerner (4/11, 1 RBI, Gold Glove at Secondbase)
Most Outstanding Pitcher – Daniel Palencia (2 Wins, 3 innings, 2 K’s)
Red Sox vs Yankees –
Most Outstanding Field Player – Cam Schlittler (Win, 8 Innings, 12 K’s)
Most Outstanding Pitcher – Anthony Volpe (4/11, 2 HRs, 1 Run, 2 RBI)
Dodgers vs Reds –
Most Outstanding Field Player – Yoshinobu Yamamoto (6.2 Innings, 0 Earned Runs, 9 K’s)
Most Outstanding Pitcher – Mookie Betts (6/9, 3 Doubles, 3 RBI)
Final Thoughts and What Comes Next
What comes next for you? Watch more baseball. Kidding, but seriously you should watch more baseball. October baseball is the best. I’ll be watching every game of the playoffs like I have been and providing recaps. This was the most fun I’ve had watching baseball in a long time, I even got my fiance to watch a few games with me! Each game matters more in the postseason, each player is battling something, and each coach is battling a strategic game against one another. Truly the best time to sit down and watch high quality baseball.
The Cubs will face the Brewers in the NLDS, located in Milwaukee for the first few games before heading back to Chicago. The first game of that series takes off at 2:08 PM EST on Saturday, October 4th.
The Yankees head across the border to Toronto to face the Blue Jays in the ALDS, which takes place on Saturday, October 4th at 4:08 PM EST.
The Dodgers, who will have the most amount of rest out of our Wild Card winners, draw a matchup against the Phillies in the second NLDS. That game will start at 6:38 PM EST on Saturday, October 4th.
The Tigers will fly out to Seattle to face the Mariners, who will have the latest start time on Saturday October 4th, at 8:38 PM EST in the second ALDS matchup.
I’m really excited for all of these matchups and for the coaching decisions that will make these teams one step closer to the ultimate prize… the World Series trophy. I hope you’ll follow along with me at Behind the Coaching as I bring you recaps of the most important decisions, moments, and players in each game. Take care until the Divisional Series start back up. See you then!
