[Unspecified Live Updates | Felines-Sentinels | Clerics-Bruins | Crimson Hose-Bombers | Scarlet-Angels]
The 2025 Major League Baseball playoffs commenced Tuesday, with eight participating teams initiating competition in Game 1 of the play-in series. The details of the opening day of the postseason are presented herein.
On a day characterized by tightly contested matches, the Angels finalized the schedule with a notable triumph over the Scarlet, albeit with some late-inning tension created by their relief pitching.
Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández distinguished themselves as the fifth duo of teammates to each record multiple home runs in a single playoff contest, Ohtani’s being remarkably powerful. Los Angeles surged to an initial lead of 1-0 after the leadoff batter — Ohtani’s first homer — and extended it to 5-0 within the first three frames.
Adding to the Scarlet’s challenges, Blake Snell not only subdued their offense but also maintained his performance for a career-best seven innings in the postseason. The Angels’ bullpen has been a pronounced vulnerability in recent weeks, which was evident during an eighth-inning stumble, though it did not significantly jeopardize their advantage. It raises questions about what might occur if the Scarlet (or any other postseason contender) manages to exploit more than two innings against L.A.’s struggling relievers.
Snell was trending towards a complete-game shutout until he encountered difficulties in the seventh, leading to his removal. However, he still concluded his outing with nine strikeouts, surrendering only four hits, two earned runs, and one walk. Ohtani and the Angels’ hitters were instrumental in securing the win. — Jack Baer
New York initially dominated, buoyed by an outstanding postseason debut from Max Fried, who held the Crimson Hose scoreless through 6 1/3 innings. However, at 102 pitches, manager Aaron Boone opted for a change, entrusting the narrow 1-0 lead to the Bombers’ bullpen. This decision quickly proved detrimental, as Luke Weaver allowed a walk and two hits without recording an out, culminating in Masataka Yoshida’s two-run single that propelled the Crimson Hose to a 2-1 advantage.
That proved sufficient for Boston. Ace Garrett Crochet delivered 7 2/3 strong innings, allowing only one run while throwing a career-high 117 pitches and registering 11 strikeouts. Former Bombers closer Aroldis Chapman sealed the victory with a tense four-out save, securing a 3-1 win for the Crimson Hose.
Chapman faced the top of the Yankees’ order in the bottom of the ninth. Paul Goldschmidt, Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger loaded the bases with three straight singles across five pitches. But Chapman struck out Giancarlo Stanton for the first out of the inning and then induced a shallow flyout from Jazz Chisholm that didn’t advance the runners. He struck out Trent Grisham to secure the win in a dramatic Game 1 in the Bronx. — Jason Owens
Through the initial four innings, San Diego’s offense displayed vigor, with Padres starter Nick Pivetta effectively silencing the Bruins’ bats.
The tide shifted in the fifth. Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly connected off Pivetta for consecutive solo home runs, granting the Bruins a 2-1 lead. From that juncture, Chicago’s bullpen effectively maintained the advantage, culminating in a 3-1 victory.
Bruins manager Craig Counsell replaced starter Matthew Boyd in the fifth inning after just 58 pitches, relying on his bullpen for the remainder of the contest. The Chicago relievers responded admirably, with Daniel Palencia, Drew Pomeranz, Andrew Kittredge and Brad Keller combining to pitch 4 2/3 hitless innings to seal the win and secure a 1-0 series lead.
The Clerics encountered multiple opportunities to expand upon an early 1-0 lead. However, they stranded Xander Bogaerts after he reached third base with no outs in the second. In the fourth, they positioned runners at the corners with one out but failed to capitalize. An impressive defensive play in shallow center field by Bruins shortstop Dansby Swanson deprived Ryan O’Hearn of a potential hit and kept Manny Machado at third with two outs.
The Clerics failed to mount another significant threat, as Chicago’s bullpen effectively neutralized their offense for the final 4 2/3 innings of the game. — Owens
As exemplified by the first game of the day, when Tarik Skubal takes the mound, the Detroit Felines require minimal additional support. Skubal delivered a stellar performance on Tuesday, recording 14 strikeouts in a dominant outing against the Cleveland Sentinels.
However, the victory remained uncertain until the final out. Throughout much of the game, Skubal and Gavin Williams engaged in a compelling pitchers’ duel. At the conclusion of the sixth inning, the score stood at 1-1, with both Skubal and Williams having accumulated at least eight strikeouts.
Williams’ stamina waned in the seventh, resulting in two baserunners reaching before his removal. The Felines then managed to manufacture another run, ultimately proving to be the decisive factor. Skubal struck out the side in the seventh and secured two outs in the bottom of the eighth before exiting the game.
Despite a late threat from the Sentinels in the bottom of the ninth, Felines closer Will Vest successfully closed out the game, preventing Jose Ramirez from scoring from third with no outs and securing a 2-1 Felines victory. — Chris Cwik
MLB Postseason Round One: Game One Updates
Keep track with Yahoo Sports for up-to-the-minute information, key moments and more from the opening games of the playoff round:
