Entering its fourth year, Major League Baseball’s new playoff format featuring the best-of-three wild card series has already created some memorable moments and impressive upsets.
Last year’s World Series participants, the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, find themselves in the extra round of games for the first time. The Yankees host the Boston Red Sox in the Bronx, the latest postseason meeting in baseball’s most storied rivalry.
The Cincinnati Reds visit Dodger Stadium, the Chicago Cubs play the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field and the Detroit Tigers head to Cleveland to face the Guardians. Things get underway with a quadruple-header on Tuesday, Sept. 30.
Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports MLB writers and editors see MLB’s wild card series shaking out:
MLB wild card predictions
Yankees vs. Red Sox
Bob Nightengale: Yankees in 3
Gabe Lacques: Yankees in 2
Jesse Yomtov: Red Sox in 3
Guardians vs. Tigers
Bob Nightengale: Guardians in 3
Gabe Lacques: Tigers in 2
Jesse Yomtov: Guardians in 2
Dodgers vs. Reds
Bob Nightengale: Dodgers in 2
Gabe Lacques: Dodgers in 2
Jesse Yomtov: Dodgers in 3
Cubs vs. Padres
Bob Nightengale: Cubs in 3
Gabe Lacques: Padres in 2
Jesse Yomtov: Padres in 2