MLB Divisional Round Opens After Wild-Card Eliminations

The 2026 MLB divisional round opened with four games after the Phillies, Astros, Red Sox and Cubs were eliminated in the wild-card round. Coverage highlighted the White Sox-Guardians matchup, including Chicago’s Hagen Smith starting against Cleveland’s Parker Messick, and captured key moments from the opening playoff action, such as Munetaka Murakami’s two-run homer and Chicago’s final-out celebration.