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2023 American League Wild Card Series

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The 2023 American League Wild Card Series were the two best-of-three playoff series in Major League Baseball (MLB) that determined the participating teams of the 2023 American League Division Series (ALDS). Both Wild Card Series began on October 3, with Game 2s scheduled for October 4. ESPN broadcast both Wild Card Series in the United States together with ESPN Radio[1] while Sportsnet broadcast the Minnesota Twins vs. Toronto Blue Jays series in Canada.

2023 American League Wild Card Series
Teams
Team (Wins) Manager Season
Minnesota Twins (2) Rocco Baldelli 87–75 (.537), GA: 9
Toronto Blue Jays (0) John Schneider 89–73 (.549), GB: 12
DatesOctober 3–4
TelevisionUnited States: ESPN
Canada: Sportsnet
TV announcersMichael Kay, Alex Rodriguez, and Alden Gonzalez (ESPN)
Dan Shulman, Buck Martinez, and Hazel Mae (Sportsnet)
RadioESPN
Radio announcersDave O'Brien and Kyle Peterson
UmpiresAndy Fletcher, Adam Hamari, Dan Iassogna (crew chief), Mike Muchlinski, Jeremie Rehak, Mark Wegner
Teams
Team (Wins) Manager Season
Texas Rangers (2) Bruce Bochy 90–72 (.556), GB: 0
Tampa Bay Rays (0) Kevin Cash 99–63 (.611), GB: 2
DatesOctober 3–4
TelevisionABC
TV announcersSean McDonough, Jessica Mendoza, Tim Kurkjian, and Coley Harvey
RadioESPN
Radio announcersMike Monaco and Todd Frazier
UmpiresLance Barksdale (crew chief), Adam Beck, Tripp Gibson, Adrian Johnson, Carlos Torres, Alex Tosi
← 2022 ALWCS 2024 →

These matchups were:

Background

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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 Minnesota Twins (87–75) clinched the postseason for the first time since 2020 by winning the AL Central on September 23.[2] Due to being the worst division winner in the American League in terms of record, they were locked into the third seed.[3][4][5] The Twins, whose 18-game postseason losing streak is the longest in North American professional sports, are looking for their first postseason game win since 2004 and their first postseason series win since 2002.[6][7] They hosted to the sixth-seeded Toronto Blue Jays (89–73), who clinched their second straight postseason appearance, and third since 2020 on September 30.[8] The teams split their regular season series match-up, 3–3.[9] Their only previous postseason meeting occurred in the 1991 American League Championship Series, which Minnesota won in five games.

The Tampa Bay Rays (99–63) clinched their fifth straight postseason appearance, extending the franchise record for consecutive postseason, on September 17, via a loss to the Baltimore Orioles, who also clinched a berth on this day after the Texas Rangers lost to Cleveland Guardians.[10][11] As a result of holding the best non-division winning record in the American League, they were locked into the fourth seed. They hosted the fifth-seeded Texas Rangers (90–72), who clinched their first postseason appearance since 2016 on September 30, but they lost their AL West division lead on the last day of the season via a 1–0 shutout loss to the Seattle Mariners and the Houston Astros 8–1 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks.[12][13] As a result, the Astros won the AL West and clinched a first-round bye by winning the season series 9–4 against the Rangers. Texas won the regular season series against Tampa Bay, 4–2.[14] This is the third postseason match-up between the Rays and Rangers, with the Rangers having won the previous two matchups, the 2010 American League Division Series in five games and the 2011 American League Division Series in four games.

As the top two seeds, the Baltimore Orioles (101–61) and Houston Astros (90–72) earned a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the ALDS.[15][16][17]

Matchups

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Minnesota Twins vs. Toronto Blue Jays

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Minnesota won the series, 2–0.

Game Date Score Location Time Attendance 
1 October 3 Toronto Blue Jays – 1, Minnesota Twins – 3 Target Field 2:40 38,450[18] 
2 October 4 Toronto Blue Jays – 0, Minnesota Twins – 2 Target Field 2:51 38,518[19]

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Texas Rangers

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Texas won the series, 2–0.

Game Date Score Location Time Attendance 
1 October 3 Texas Rangers – 4, Tampa Bay Rays – 0 Tropicana Field 2:41 19,704[20] 
2 October 4 Texas Rangers – 7, Tampa Bay Rays – 1 Tropicana Field 2:39 20,198[21]

Minnesota vs. Toronto

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This was the second postseason match-up between the Twins and Blue Jays, following the 1991 American League Championship Series, which Minnesota won in five games.[22] Heading into the series, numerous observers commented on how evenly matched the two teams were.[23][24][25]

Game 1

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Royce Lewis, pictured here with the St. Paul Saints, hit two home runs and drove in all of the Twins' runs in Game 1.
October 3, 2023 3:40 pm (CDT) at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota 84 °F (29 °C), Overcast
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Toronto 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 6 0
Minnesota 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 X 3 5 1
WP: Pablo López (1–0)   LP: Kevin Gausman (0–1)   Sv: Jhoan Durán (1)
Home runs:
TOR: None
MIN: Royce Lewis 2 (2)
Attendance: 38,450
Boxscore

Kevin Gausman took the mound for the Blue Jays opposite Pablo López for the Twins, who were looking to end the longest playoff losing streak in North American sports history. Royce Lewis provided all of the offense the Twins would need, hitting two home runs in his first two playoff at-bats to put Minnesota up 3–0. Michael A. Taylor and Carlos Correa made strong defensive plays to keep the Blue Jays off of the board until the top of the sixth, when Toronto plated a run on a Kevin Kiermaier single. The Twins bullpen shut down the scoring from there with 31⁄3 scoreless innings to earn the Twins' first playoff victory since Game 1 of the 2004 ALDS and snap their 18-game playoff losing streak.[26]

Game 2

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Carlos Correa, pictured here with the Houston Astros, drove in the go-ahead run in Game 2.
October 4, 2023 3:40 pm (CDT) at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota 64 °F (18 °C), Cloudy
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Toronto 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 1
Minnesota 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 7 0
WP: Sonny Gray (1–0)   LP: José Berríos (0–1)   Sv: Jhoan Durán (2)
Attendance: 38,518
Boxscore

The Blue Jays, looking to stave off elimination, started former Twin José Berríos, while the Twins, in pursuit of their first playoff series win since 2002, started Sonny Gray. Both pitchers allowed no runs for the first three innings of the game. After giving up a leadoff walk in the fourth inning, Berríos was pulled with 47 pitches thrown in favor of Yusei Kikuchi. Kikuchi, normally a starter, proceeded to load the bases with no outs. Carlos Correa drove in a run with a single. Willi Castro subsequently hit into a double play but Max Kepler was able to score Minnesota's second run of the game. The Blue Jays put two runners in scoring position in the fifth inning but Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was picked off at second base to end the inning. In the sixth, Toronto loaded the bases with one out but failed to score as Matt Chapman hit into a 6–4–3 double play.[27] Three innings later, Jhoan Durán would pitch around a one-out single to strike out the side and pickup his second save in as many days. With the victory, the Twins won their first postseason series since 2002, and with the loss, the Blue Jays fell to 0–6 in postseason games since 2020.

Composite line score

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2023 ALWC (2–0): Minnesota Twins beat Toronto Blue Jays

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Toronto Blue Jays 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 15 1
Minnesota Twins 2 0 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 5 12 1
Total attendance: 76,968   Average attendance: 38,484

Tampa Bay vs. Texas

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This was the third postseason match-up between the Rays and Rangers, with the Rangers having won the previous two matchups: the 2010 American League Division Series in five games, and the 2011 American League Division Series in four games.[28][29]

Game 1

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Jordan Montgomery, pictured here with the New York Yankees, got the win in Game 1.
October 3, 2023 3:07 pm (EDT) at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida 72 °F (22 °C), Dome
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Texas 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 4 9 1
Tampa Bay 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 4
WP: Jordan Montgomery (1–0)   LP: Tyler Glasnow (0–1)
Attendance: 19,704
Boxscore

Jordan Montgomery scattered six hits and struck out five over seven shutout innings, helping the Texas Rangers beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 4–0. Tyler Glasnow battled through five innings, giving up four runs, one earned, and striking out eight while walking five. The Rays committed four errors, setting a single-game playoff franchise record and the most in a postseason game since the New York Yankees committed four errors in Game 4 of the 2019 ALCS.[30][31] The 19,704 in attendance for the afternoon match-up was the lowest attended postseason game (non-COVID-19 year) since Game 7 of the infamous 1919 World Series.[32] The Rangers snapped a six-game postseason losing streak that began with the loss against the Blue Jays in Game 3 of the 2015 ALDS.

Game 2

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Nathan Eovaldi, pictured here with the Boston Red Sox, got the win in Game 2.
October 4, 2023 3:08 pm (EDT) at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida 72 °F (22 °C), Dome
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Texas 0 0 0 4 1 2 0 0 0 7 12 1
Tampa Bay 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 8 1
WP: Nathan Eovaldi (1–0)   LP: Zach Eflin (0–1)
Home runs:
TEX: Adolis García (1), Evan Carter (1)
TB: None
Attendance: 20,198
Boxscore

Nathan Eovaldi scattered six hits and struck out eight over 62⁄3 innings, leading the Rangers to a 7–1 victory and their first playoff series win since the 2011 ALCS. Zach Eflin battled through five innings, giving up five runs, four earned, and striking out three while walking two. Before scratching across a single run in the bottom of the seventh, the Rays had gone 34 consecutive innings without scoring in the playoffs, a scoreless streak that dated back to the sixth inning of Game 1 of the 2022 AL Wild Card Series against the Cleveland Guardians. Tampa Bay has now lost seven postseason games in a row dating back to the 2021 ALDS against the Boston Red Sox. Additionally, with the Minnesota Twins' 18-game playoff losing streak ending on the previous night, the Rays are now tied with the Blue Jays with the longest active playoff losing streak, at seven. This active playoff losing streak would be surpassed by the Baltimore Orioles (eight games) following getting swept by the Rangers in the next round.[33]

Composite line score

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2023 ALWC (2–0): Texas Rangers beat Tampa Bay Rays

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Texas Rangers 0 1 0 4 2 4 0 0 0 11 21 2
Tampa Bay Rays 0 0 1 2 0 2 1 0 0 1 14 5
Total attendance: 39,902   Average attendance: 19,951

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "MLB announces 2023 Postseason schedule". MLB.com. August 8, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  2. ^ "Twins secure third AL Central title in last 5 years". ESPN.com. September 23, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  3. ^ "Twins lose home finale, will be No. 3 seed in AL playoffs". Yahoo Sports. September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  4. ^ Miller, Phil. "Twins lose regular season home finale to A's, will be No. 3 seed in American League". Star Tribune. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  5. ^ Campbell, Dave (September 23, 2023). "Twins clinch AL Central for 3rd division title in 5 years; postseason losing streak up next". AP News. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  6. ^ Silverman, Steve. "Twins: Nightmare seeding scenario, matchup for 2023 MLB playoffs". ClutchPoints.com.
  7. ^ Nightengale, Bob (October 3, 2023). "Current Twins seek to end Minnesota's years-long playoff misery: 'Just win one'". USA Today. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  8. ^ Matheson, Keegan. "After late help, Blue Jays clinch Wild Card berth". MLB.com. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  9. ^ Do-Hyoung, Park. "Twins wrap regular season, focus now on Blue Jays in Wild Card matchup". MLB.com. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  10. ^ Media, Field Level (September 17, 2023). "Playoff berth on the line when Rays meet Orioles". Reuters. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  11. ^ Berry, Adam. "Clinched! Rays punch ticket to 5th straight postseason". MLB.com.
  12. ^ Landry, Kennedi. "Rangers make 1st postseason since 2016: 'It feels so sweet'". MLB.com. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  13. ^ Landry, Kennedi. "Rangers head to postseason as 2nd AL Wild Card team". MLB.com. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  14. ^ Berry, Adam. "Rays win finale, to face Rangers in Wild Card Series". MLB.com. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  15. ^ "Astros sweep Diamondbacks, capture AL West title". Deadspin. October 1, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  16. ^ Rill, Jake. "O's clinch first AL East crown since 2014 with win No. 100". MLB.com.
  17. ^ McTaggart, Brian (October 1, 2023). "Astros seize AL West title with win in Game 162". MLB.com. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  18. ^ "Blue Jays 1, Twins 3 Final Score". MLB.com. October 3, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  19. ^ "Blue Jays 0, Twins 2 Final Score". October 4, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  20. ^ "Rangers 4, Rays 0 Final Score". MLB.com. October 3, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  21. ^ "Rangers 7, Rays 1 Final Score". MLB.com. October 3, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  22. ^ "1991 Postseason History". MLB.com. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  23. ^ Petriello, Mike (October 3, 2023). "Blue Jays-Twins position-by-position breakdown". MLB.com. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  24. ^ Clemens, Ben (October 2, 2023). "American League Wild Card Preview: Minnesota Twins vs. Toronto Blue Jays". FanGraphs. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  25. ^ Perry, Dayn (October 3, 2023). "2023 MLB playoff predictions: Picks for Wild Card Series with Phillies heavily favored, Brewers on upset alert". CBS Sports. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  26. ^ "Toronto Blue Jays vs. Minnesota Twins Results, Stats, and Recap - October 3, 2023 Gametracker". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  27. ^ USA Today staff (October 4, 2023). "2023 MLB playoffs live updates: Rangers sweep Rays, wild card scores, schedule". USA Today. Gannett. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  28. ^ "2010 Postseason History". MLB.com. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  29. ^ "2011 Postseason History". MLB.com. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  30. ^ "Tampa Bay Rays Break Team Record With 4 Errors in Wild Card Loss to Texas Rangers - Fastball". Fastball. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  31. ^ Berry, Adam (October 3, 2023). "Sloppy defense puts Rays in a hole in WC Series". MLB.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  32. ^ Kepner, Tyler. "Rays draw smallest postseason crowd since 1919". The Athletic. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  33. ^ "Tampa Bay Rays Eliminated By Texas Rangers After Historically Poor Offensive Showing - Fastball". Fastball. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
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