A Lugnuts Fan's Guide to the Wild Card Round

The 2026 MLB regular season is over and it's time to crown a champ. Welcome to the postseason!

Beginning Tuesday...

No. 6 Phillies at No. 3 Braves, 2 p.m.

• How about Phillies reliever Tim Mayza, who pitched in 26 games for the Lugnuts in 2015, completing his ninth season in the Major Leagues! It's Tim's fourth postseason with his third different team (Toronto 2022-23, NY Yankees 2024).

• In a bit of surprise, the Braves included Rowdy Tellez, who played only seven games for Atlanta in the regular season. Tellez was a Lugnut back in 2016 and 2017; the Braves are his fifth team in the last four years. Considering that Tellez is a left-handed power-hitter and Mayza is a lefty specialist, we could well see a Mayza vs. Tellez matchup.

No. 5 Cubs at No. 4 Padres, 10 p.m.

• You'll be asleep, they'll be playing ball, catch the fever! Chicago's Game 1 starter is Matthew Boyd, who made his pro debut for the Nuts back in 2013, and has won 10+ games the last two seasons for the Cubbies. Boyd's Lugnuts career stats: 14 innings, 1 run, 1 walk, 12 strikeouts, which is comparable to...

• Padres all-world closer Mason Miller's 2022 Lugnuts stats: 7 innings, 3 runs, 2 walks, 13 strikeouts. Outfielder Samad Taylor played the whole 2018 season for the Nuts, batting .228 in 121 games, but was outstanding for San Diego with a .316 avg. and .390 OBP. Lastly, 2009-2010 Nuts middle infielder Ryan Goins serves as infield instructor on the coaching staff.

The American League series (No. 6 White Sox at No. 3 Astros, and No. 5 Red Sox at No. 4 Yankees) don't have Lugnuts representation.

Enjoy the baseball!