2026 MLB Wild Card Game 2 scores, live updates: Astros try to stay alive vs. White Sox, Alec Bohm rescues Phillies

The Astros continued to chip away at the White Sox’ lead in the second inning as Cam Smith walloped a 440-foot solo homer off of Sean Burker in the bottom of the second inning.

What looked like a massive four-run deficit in the top half of the first inning is now down to a manageable two-run difference heading into the third inning.

The Astros aren’t ready to go away just yet.

After a disastrous top half of the first inning, the Astros clawed a bit closer in the home half of the frame as Jeremy Peña clobbered a leadoff home run off of White Sox’ right-hander Sean Burke.

They still face a major uphill climb if they’re going to come back and force a Game 3, but they’re now one run closer heading to the second.

The White Sox jumped out to another early lead against the Astros in Game 2 of their Wild Card series on Wednesday, ambushing right-hander Hunter Brown for four runs on four hits in the opening inning — with the Astros making a pair of defensive miscues to help the White Sox’ cause.

Sam Antonacci got the party started with a leadoff double, then raced around to score on an RBI single by Kyle Teel that gave the White Sox an advantage before an out had been recorded.

Miguel Vargas then reached on an error by third baseman Nick Allen — who was inserted into the Astros’ lineup on Wednesday to improve their infield defense. After Munetaka Murakami struck out, Andrew Benintendi delivered an RBI single and a second run scored as Lucas Spence made a throwing error on the play.

Tristan Peters then added another RBI single that increased the White Sox’ edge to 4-0 before right-hander Sean Burke even took the mound.

It’s an absolutely nightmarish start for the Astros who are going to have to stage a major comeback if they’re going to stave off elimination and force a Game 3.

The Phillies outlasted the Braves in Game 2 of their Wild Card Series on Wednesday afternoon, using late home runs from Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper to tie the game in the eighth inning and then a go-ahead solo shot from Alec Bohm with two outs in the 10^th inning to go ahead.

The two sides will now meet again in a do-or-die Game 3 on Thursday with the winner advancing to the NLDS and the loser heading home for the winter.

Aaron Nola is scheduled to take the ball in Game 3 for the Phillies with Grant Holmes likely to work in a bulk role for the Braves. The start time of that matchup has yet to be determined and will depend on how many other series go to a third and deciding game.

Alec Bohm delivered the Phillies’ biggest hit of the season on Wednesday, crushing an opposite-field solo shot off of Didier Fuentes with two outs in the top half of the 10th inning.

Can the Braves answer in the home half of the inning?

Nine innings wasn’t enough for the Braves and Phillies to decide Game 2 of their Wild Card Series on Wednesday afternoon, so we’re heading for bonus baseball.

Didier Fuentes is on the mound for the Braves while Andrew Painter figures to go as long as he can for the Phillies.

Stay tuned, as this series could change dramatically at any instant now.

Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper delivered back-to-back bombs off Dylan Lee to draw the Phillies back even with the Braves in the eighth inning Wednesday.

Just minutes after miscue in right field opened the door for the Braves to take a two-run lead in the seventh, Harper tied the game. It was a stunning result against Lee, who had faced 102 left-handed hitters this year and given up homers to none of them. He had a 3.09 ERA and 31 holds in his setup role, blowing just two leads all year.

The Red Sox plan to replace Roman Anthony on their roster for their Wild Card series after he was diagnosed with damage to muscles in his wrist.

Jeff Passan of ESPN notes that it’s a different injury that the finger issue that cost him three months earlier in the season. The Red Sox are working to get approval to make a roster move before Game 2 against the Yankees on Wednesday night.

Jahmai Jones will start in Anthony’s place atop the Red Sox’ lineup and will function as their designated hitter against Yankees’ southpaw Max Fried on Wednesday evening in New York.

The Astros will roll out a nearly identical lineup on Wednesday as they attempt to stave off elimination in Game 2 of their Wild Card series against the White Sox.

The top eight in the lineup remain the same, with the only change coming as Nick Allen will start at third base and bat ninth instead of Taylor Trammell who hit ninth in Game 1. To make things work, Isaac Paredes will function as the team’s designated hitter while Yordan Alvarez will start in left field.

With their backs against the wall, the Astros will need a strong offensive performance to back ace right-hander Hunter Brown.

Though little fault of his own, Cristopher Sánchez was knocked out of Wednesday’s game in the seventh inning, with the Braves scoring two runs on a walk, a sac bunt that resulted in no outs, a fly to right that Bryce Harper misplayed and a Matt Olson sac fly. That gave Atlanta a 3-1 lead while needing just six more outs to advance to the NLDS.

Harper’s misadventure in right field came on what seemed like a pretty routine flyball from Drake Baldwin. Of course, Harper has tons of experience in right field, but he moved to first base in 2023 after elbow surgery and only returned to the outfield this year as a result of the Luis Arraez acquisition at the trade deadline. What the Phillies really needed then was an outfielder, but they thought Arraez’s bat was too good to pass up and moved Bryson Stott from second to third, Alec Bohm from third to first and Harper from first to right in order to make room for him. They’ve mostly maintained that new alignment even with Arraez out for the Wild Card series because of an ankle injury.

Cristopher Sánchez got a double play from Michael Harris II with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth to preserve a 1-1 tie between the Phillies and Braves.

The Braves got singles from Ozzie Albies, Mauricio Dubón and Austin Riley in the sixth, but Albies decided to hold up at third on the third hit. Harris then hit a sharp grounder to first that Alec Bohm handled. Bohm threw home, causing Harris to let up a bit for no good reason. J.T. Realmuto got the first out and then made the throw back to first just in time to retire Harris.

Roman Anthony (hand) is not in the Red Sox’ starting lineup for Game 2 of their Wild Card Series against the Yankees on Wednesday evening.

The 22-year-old outfielder was pulled from Game 1 on Tuesday in the sixth inning after aggravating a hand injury that cost him three months earlier in the season.

The Red Sox are still assessing whether or not they’ll replace Anthony on their roster for the Wild Card series, which would make him ineligible for the ALDS should they come back to advance.

Jahmai Jones will function as the team’s leadoff hitter and designated hitter against Yankees’ southpaw Max Fried. Nate Eaton will also draw a start in left field and bat ninth while Jarred Duran will start the day on the bench for the Red Sox.

Even after a 9-0 drubbing of the Red Sox in Game 1 of their Wild Card Series on Tuesday, the Yankees are mixing up their lineup against right-hander Sonny Gray in Game 2 on Wednesday evening.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. returns to the Yankees’ lineup, as do Luis Garcia Jr., Trent Grisham and Ryan McMahon with Paul Goldschmidt, Amed Rosario, Heliot Ramos and Anthony Volpe taking a seat for the Bombers.

Ben Rice moves up to the leadoff spot after his monster day at the plate in Game 1.

As the venerable Sarah Langs noted, Ronald Acuña Jr. made some history on the basepaths with his two stolen bases in the opening inning of Game 2.

He became just the third player in franchise history with multiple stolen bases in a single innings in the postseason, joining Rafael Furcal (2005) and Ron Gant (1991).

He also became just the seventh player overall in MLB postseason history to swipe two bases in the first inning of a playoff game. The last time that feat was accomplished, was by Trea Turner in Game 2 of the 2024 NLDS.

The Braves and Phillies remain in a 1-1 tie through three innings as both starting pitchers have settled in nicely.

Mahle has allowed four hits and a walk while striking out three batters over his first three frames, throwing 50 pitches (31 strikes).

Sánchez has been a bit less efficient, needing 54 pitches (34 strikes) to record his first nine outs – four of them via the strikeout. After allowing a leadoff walk to Ha-Seong Kim in the third inning though, he really dug in and fanned Ronald Acuña Jr. and Drake Baldwin before getting Ozzie Albies on a weak pop out to end the inning.

The Phillies are going to have to get much better work from their bullpen if they’re going to stave off elimination on Wednesday.

Flying high off of their 6-3 victory over the Astros in Game one on Tuesday, the White Sox will run back almost an identical starting lineup as they look to advance to the ALDS on Wednesday.

It’ll be the same starting nine backing right-hander Sean Burke, with the only change being that Chase Meidroth and Braden Montgomery will swap spots in the lineup, with Meidroth batting seventh and Montgomery batting eighth.

The Braves struck right back in the home half of the first inning. Superstar outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. worked Cristopher Sanchez for a seven-pitch walk to open the inning. He then swiped second base as Drake Baldwin went down on strikes and stole third base uncontested while Matt Olson was at the dish with two outs.

Olson battled the Phillies’ southpaw until poking the eighth pitch of the at-bat into right field to plate Acuña with the equalizer. It looks like we’re going to have a battle on our hands in Game 2.

The Phillies wasted no time getting on the board first in Game 2 as Trea Turner smacked a leadoff double off of Tyler Mahle. He then advanced to third on a ground ball off the bat of Kyle Schwarber. Bryce Harper followed with a run-scoring single that gave the Phillies an early 1-0 advantage for the second straight game.

Let’s see if they can hold on this time.

Mahle battled back to get out of the inning, but the Braves will be facing a 1-0 deficit when they come to bat in the home half of the first inning.

Braves fans were hoping for a major addition for their rotation at the August 2 MLB Trade Deadline, with Tarik Skubal and Jacob deGrom among the big names connected to the club, but they ended up acquiring Tyler Mahle from the Giants.

Mahle struggled to the tune of a 5.13 ERA through 13 starts with the Giants, so expectations were rather low. A veteran who could provide some innings for a shaky group, but not much more. Instead, the veteran right-hander ended up being one of the most important deadline additions across the entire league.

With an increased focus on his splitter, Mahle put up a sparking 1.99 ERA over nine starts with Atlanta to finish out the regular season. In 54 1/3 innings, he issued just nine walks while registering 48 strikeouts. A true game-changer for this hobbled rotation where Chris Sale was the only sure thing.

Mahle threw at least six innings in eight out of his nine starts. The lone exception was his final start against the Reds on September 24. In that start, he was tagged for two homers while allowing five runs in five innings.

What version of Mahle are the Phillies going to get today in his first ever postseason start? The one who posted a 2.24 ERA in four starts against them this season, or the one who stumbled in his final regular season start? The answer could be the difference between the Phillies going home or not.

The Braves and Phillies are just a half hour away from Game 2 of their NL Wild Card series. The Braves will be trotting out mostly the same lineup as they look to end the Phillies’ season, with one adjustment: Ronald Acuña Jr. is leading off.

This may not seem noteworthy, but Acuña Jr. has led off just three times since September 8th. That role is mostly held by Drake Baldwin. Baldwin will DH and hit second in this one, with Sean Murphy entering the lineup as the catcher and hitting eighth.

The Phillies made one major adjustment as well in their outfield, with Brandon Marsh entering the lineup.

Marsh sat out Game 1 with the Braves throwing left-hander Chris Sale, but he’ll be back in against Tyler Mahle. Marsh hit a career-high 18 home runs this season while stealing 11 bases and posting a .260/.304/.408 slash line.