2024 MLB wild-card round Day 2: Tigers sweep Astros, Royals

Two Game 2s down. Two wild-card round sweeps.

The Detroit Tigers continued their shocking surge with a wild-card sweep, eliminating the AL West champion Houston Astros with a comeback win. The Kansas City Royals followed suit in the second AL matchup of the day, sweeping the Baltimore Orioles with a 2-1 win in Baltimore.

What will the two NL gsamesa bring? We’ve got you covered with lineups, live updates and analysis as the games are played, followed by our takeaways after each final pitch.

Key links: Everything you need to know | Bracket | Picks | Watch on ESPN, ABC

Jump to: Live updates | Lineups, matchups

Live updates

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Today’s matchups

* All times Eastern

Tigers win series 2-0

Perhaps it was fitting that Andy Ibañez, a 31-year-old part-time player who batted .175 over the last two months, delivered the biggest hit of the Tigers’ season. Ibañez was summoned to pinch hit against the Astros’ star closer Josh Hader with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth and laced a three-run double down the left-field line. The hit propelled Detroit to victory in a game that saw it deploy seven different pitchers. The Tigers are young and unheralded, but they continue to find a way. Their latest conquest: snapping the Astros’ streak of seven consecutive trips to the American League Championship Series and advancing to the division series, which begins Saturday. Their unfathomable run continues.

What’s next: The Tigers’ next opponent is a familiar one: their AL Central rivals, the Cleveland Guardians, a team that seems just as scrappy and united as the Tigers are. The Guardians barely won their season series, taking seven of 13. The Astros, meanwhile, enter an offseason of uncertainty, mostly surrounding their star third baseman, Alex Bregman, who is scheduled for free agency. — Alden Gonzalez

Royals win series 2-0

For the second straight day, Bobby Witt Jr. drove in a crucial run for the Royals. And for the second straight today, Baltimore’s offense was held in check by Kansas City pitching as the Royals swept their into the ALDS. The Royals will face the Yankees, starting Saturday in New York.

Mets lead series 1-0

Pitching matchup: Sean Manaea (12-6, 3.47 ERA) vs. Frankie Montas (7-11, 4.84 ERA)

Starting lineups:

Mets

Francisco Lindor (S) SS
Jose Iglesias (R) 2B
Mark Vientos (R) 3B
Brandon Nimmo (L) LF
Pete Alonso (R) 1B
J.D. Martinez (R) DH
Starling Marte (R) RF
Tyrone Taylor (R) CF
Francisco Alvarez (R) C