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Game 2 score, MLB playoff highlights
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Game 2 score, MLB playoff highlights

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BALTIMORE — It’s win or go home. And in the two years that Major League Baseball has expanded the wild-card playoff format, the answer has almost always been, “Go home.”

The Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves will try to avoid elimination on Wednesday after losing their openers in the best-of-three wild card round. The Astros send right-hander Hunter Brown to the mound – with left-hander Yusei Kikuchi available in the bullpen – against the surprising Detroit Tigers (2:32 ET, ABC).

Baltimore will hope to avoid another disappointing playoff sweep — and break a nine-game postseason losing streak — against the Kansas City Royals at Camden Yards (4:38 ET, ESPN). Milwaukee and the surprising New York Mets (7:38 ET, ESPN) and San Diego Padres-Atlanta (8:38 ET, ESPN2) will complete the quartet of games.

Game 3s will be contested on Thursday, with start times fluctuating based on the number of games required. If history is our guide, it won’t be many: Seven of the eight wild-card series ended in two-game sweeps in the first two years of this format, and the winner of Game 1 has won all eight.

Keep it here Wednesday for all the action from Game 2 between the Orioles and Royals at Camden Yards:

BALTIMORE – After a Game 1 stalemate that saw it difficult to score points, the Kansas City Royals wasted no time in taking the lead as they look to close out the Orioles in GAme 2 of their AL wild-card series.

Leadoff hitter Michael Massey doubled down the right field line and scored on a single by the recently activated Vinnie Pasquantino, giving Kansas City a 1-0 lead after one inning at Camden Yards.

Starter Seth Lugo suffered a brief hiccup in the first inning when he hit Jordan Westburg on the left with one out, but Lugo recovered to strike out Anthony Santander and Colton Cowser to end the inning close.

How to watch Orioles vs. Royals

  • Royals: RHP Seth Lugo (16-9, 3.00 ERA)
  • Orioles: RHP Zach Eflin (10-9, 3.59 ERA)

MLB PLAYOFFS SCORES: Wildcard results from Game 2 action Wednesday

Who goes further? Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports sees MLB team playing this week.

Kansas City Royals (86-76) and Baltimore Orioles (91-71)

  • Bob Nightingale: Orioles in 3
  • Gabe Lakken: Orioles in 2
  • Steve Gardner: Orioles in 3
  • Jesse Yomtov: Orioles in 2
  • Scott Boeck: Orioles in 3

Detroit Tigers (86-76) and Houston Astros (88-73)

  • Bob Nightingale: Astros in 3
  • Gabe Lakken: Tigers in 2
  • Steve Gardner Astros in 3
  • Jesse Yomtov: Astros in 3
  • Scott Boeck: Tigers in 3

New York Mets (89-73) at Milwaukee Brewers (93-69)

  • Bob Nightingale: Brewers in 2
  • Gabe Lakken: Brewers in 2
  • Steve Gardner: Brewers in 2
  • Jesse Yomtov: Mets in 3
  • Scott Boeck: Brewers in 2

Atlanta Braves (89-73) and San Diego Padres (93-69)

  • Bob Nightingale: Padres in 2
  • Gabe Lakken: Padres in 2
  • Steve Gardner: Padres in 2
  • Jesse Yomtov: Brave in 3
  • Scott Boeck: Padres in 2

BALTIMORE – It was 2 hours and 25 minutes of crisp playoff baseball theater Tuesday afternoon, the margins for error virtually nonexistent, the best-of-three format putting the Kansas City Royals or Baltimore Orioles on the wrong side of this deadlock would appear, and be turned off just hours later.

And for ten Kansas City Royals whose names would determine the box score, Game 1 of their American League wild-card series was their first glimpse of postseason baseball, a battle not only against the talented Orioles, but also in regulating their own emotions , calming the heart when necessary and letting it tear when the situation dictates.

The youngest team in Major League Baseball passed the test as one of the smartest veterans.

– Gabe Lakken

MLB Playoffs Bracket

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