Predicting MLB’s winner-take-all wild card games

Predicting MLB’s winner-take-all wild card games

Baseball enjoyers have a big day on tap Thursday, Oct. 2 with a tripleheader of winner-take-all games set to decide Major League Baseball’s wild card series.

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ swept the Cincinnati Reds, but all the other best-of-three series were pushed to the limit on Wednesday. Things get underway at 3 p.m. ET with the Cleveland Guardians hosting the Detroit Tigers. The Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres face off at Wrigley Field at 6 p.m. ET and then the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox clash in the nightcap.

The winners advance to the best-of-five Division Series, which begin on Saturday.

Here’s how USA TODAY Sports’ MLB experts see the winner-take-all games playing out:

Guardians vs Tigers prediction

  • Bob Nightengale: Guardians 4, Tigers 2
  • Gabe Lacques: Tigers 4, Guardians 2
  • Jesse Yomtov: Guardians 5, Tigers 3

Cubs vs Padres prediction

  • Bob Nightengale: Cubs 5, Padres 3
  • Gabe Lacques: Padres 7, Cubs 4
  • Jesse Yomtov: Padres 6, Cubs 3

Yankees vs Red Sox prediction

  • Bob Nightengale: Yankees 5, Red Sox 4
  • Gabe Lacques: Red Sox 5, Yankees 3
  • Jesse Yomtov: Red Sox 7, Yankees 2

MLB playoff bracket

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