Under the current playoff structure, there are two Wild Card Series in both the American League (AL) and National League (NL). The lowest-seeded division winner and three wild card teams in each league play in a best-of-three series after the end of the regular season. The winners of each league's wild card rounds advance to face the two best division winners in that league's Division Series.
The Milwaukee Brewers (92–70) clinched their first postseason appearance since 2021, and their fifth in six seasons on September 22[2] and the NL Central on September 26.[3][4] Due to having the worst record of the three National League division winners, they are locked into the third seed. They played host to the sixth-seeded Arizona Diamondbacks (84–78), who clinched a postseason berth on September 30, for their first postseason appearance since 2017, and just the second since 2011.[5] Arizona won the season series against Milwaukee, 4–2.[6] Historically, this is the second postseason match-up between the two teams, following the 2011 National League Division Series, which was won by the Brewers in five games.
The Philadelphia Phillies (90–72), the defending National League champions, clinched their second straight postseason appearance on September 26 and also clinched the fourth-seed as the best non-division winner and home-field advantage for the wild card series.[7][8] They played host to the fifth-seeded Miami Marlins (84–78), who clinched a postseason berth on September 30.[9] Miami won the season series against Philadelphia, 7–6, despite being outscored 64–55.[10] This is the first postseason match-up between the NL East division rivals.
This was the second postseason match-up between Milwaukee and Arizona, following the 2011 National League Division Series which Milwaukee won in five games.[24]
Game 1
Corbin Carroll hit a two-run home run in the third inning of Game 1.
Corbin Burnes started for Milwaukee, while rookie Brandon Pfaadt started for Arizona. The Brewers scored in the bottom of the first on a Carlos Santana RBI single that scored Christian Yelich. In the second, Tyrone Taylor hit a two-run home run off Pfaadt to give the Brewers a 3–0 lead. Arizona answered with a two-run home run from Corbin Carroll in the top of the third. With this homer, Carroll became the youngest-ever Diamondback to homer in the postseason. The next batter, Ketel Marte, hit a solo home run to tie the game at three. The Brewers loaded the bases in the bottom of the third but did not score. Gabriel Moreno hit a solo homer in the fourth to give Arizona a one-run lead. The Brewers loaded the bases with one out in the fifth, but third baseman Evan Longoria turned a double play to get the Diamondbacks out of the jam. Christian Walker added to Arizona's lead in the top of the ninth with a two-run double, making it 6–3. Paul Sewald earned the save for the Diamondbacks. This ended a seven-game road losing streak for Arizona in the postseason dating back to the 2007 NLCS.
Game 2 was déjà vu for Milwaukee as they scored two quick runs against Arizona's ace Zac Gallen in the first inning. Freddy Peralta was dealing early in Game 2. He struck out five through 31⁄3 innings and had a no-hitter going through four scoreless innings. Diamondbacks center fielder Alek Thomas homered to break up the no-no in the fifth. The Diamondbacks rallied for four runs in the sixth inning with Corbin Carroll's double making it a serious threat and Ketel Marte's two-RBI single giving Arizona the lead. A wild pitch and then a blooper with eyes scored the next two runs to give the Diamondbacks a 5–2 lead, which ended up being the final score.[25]
With Milwaukee's defeat, the NL Central as a division moved to a combined 0–7 in postseason series since 2020. This was also Craig Counsell's last game as Brewers' manager, as he signed with the rival Chicago Cubs in the off-season.[26]
Zack Wheeler started for the defending National League champion Phillies against Jesús Luzardo for the Marlins. After a scoreless first two innings, Alec Bohm broke the tie with an RBI double in the third inning. The Phillies tacked on two more in the fourth on back-to-back RBI singles from Bryson Stott and Cristian Pache to open up a 3–0 lead. Luzardo ended his night with three runs and eight hits given up to go along with five strikeouts over four innings. The Marlins got on the board in the seventh after an RBI single from Bryan De La Cruz chased Wheeler. José Alvarado came on in relief to strike out Yuli Gurriel to end the inning. Wheeler ended his night giving up one run and striking out eight batters over 62⁄3 strong innings. Philadelphia tacked on another run in the eighth on a Nick Castellanos RBI double before Craig Kimbrel shut the door in the ninth to give the Phillies a 1–0 lead in the series.
Game 2
Bryson Stott hit a grand slam home run in the sixth inning of Game 2.
Aaron Nola looked to send the Phillies to a rematch of the 2022 NLDS while Braxton Garrett toed the rubber hoping to keep the Marlins' playoff hopes alive. Nola ended a Marlins scoring threat in the third, throwing out Jon Berti who got caught attempting to steal third base. A Kyle Schwarber RBI double and Trea Turner RBI single started the scoring for the Phillies in the bottom half of the inning, with J. T. Realmuto tacking on another with a solo home run in the fourth. In the bottom of the sixth, Bryson Stott hit a grand slam off of Andrew Nardi to extend the Phillies' lead to 7–0. Nola finished his night after seven strong innings, scattering three hits, and striking out three. The Marlins put a run on the board in the ninth with a Josh Bell RBI single, but Gregory Soto slammed the door, striking out Jazz Chisholm Jr. on three pitches to send the Phillies to the NLDS.
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