Weird & Wild on Day 1 of MLB playoffs. The MLB playoffs are here, and it all began with a 95.1 mph Tyler Glasnow pitch at 3:07 p.m. ET at the iconic Tropicana Field. I was comfortably nestled in my favorite sofa, ready to live everyone’s October baseball dream. For nearly eight hours, I took on the duty of watching all 1,160 pitches thrown during four thrilling postseason games. You might have been busy with other things, but don’t worry; I’ve got you covered. Here’s a recap of the weirdest and wildest moments from Day 1 of the Wild Card Series:
1. 18 was enough! On October 5, 2004, you might have been waiting for the latest episode of “Veronica Mars” or trying to figure out your new iPod. But on that same day, the Minnesota Twins were winning a postseason game. That may not sound surprising, but here’s the twist: They hadn’t won one since, enduring an 18-game, 6,937-day postseason losing streak. That streak is mind-boggling, as in the regular season, only four teams in the last 50 years have lost 18 or more consecutive games.
The Twins’ postseason drought was in stark contrast to other teams’ success. During their dry spell, teams like the Red Sox, Giants, White Sox, and Cubs were winning multiple World Series titles. Meanwhile, the Twins struggled to secure a single postseason win, even as their AL Central rivals were thriving. Johan Santana’s arrival in Minnesota briefly broke the losing streak, but it was a rare bright spot in their postseason history.
2. The greatest Game 1 upset ever? In Milwaukee, a seemingly lopsided pitching matchup between Corbin Burnes and Brandon Pfaadt set the stage for what turned out to be the most significant Game 1 upset in postseason history. Despite Burnes’ superior regular-season ERA, the Diamondbacks defeated the Brewers 6-3, defying all expectations. This game marked a historic moment, as never before had there been such a substantial disparity in ERA (2.33) between Game 1 starters from opposing teams, with the “underdog” team coming out on top.
3. Who’s No. 1 Royce Lewis, the Twins’ top draft pick in 2017, had an unforgettable Game 1 with two home runs in his first-ever postseason appearance. This achievement put him in a league of his own, as no other top draft pick had hit a home run in their very first postseason plate appearance. Lewis’ remarkable performance also made him the sole member of the exclusive club of players who hit the first home run of the 2023 postseason.
4. Party of Five Zack Wheeler, the Phillies’ ace, continued to demonstrate his prowess as a Game 1 starter, maintaining an exceptional ERA in his Game 1 appearances. In fact, his career Game 1 ERA of 0.45 ranks as the best among all active starters. This achievement even surpasses Johan Santana’s record, making Wheeler the pitcher with the lowest Game 1 ERA in postseason history.
Jordan Montgomery, another standout Game 1 pitcher, delivered an outstanding performance for the Texas Rangers. Despite being traded by both the Yankees and Cardinals in the past 15 months, Montgomery showcased his talent with a seven-inning shutout against the Rays. His achievement drew attention to the question of how those trades had worked out for his former teams.
Lastly, the Tampa Bay Rays had a forgettable Game 1 marked by defensive mishaps, committing four errors in their 4-0 loss to the Texas Rangers. This performance was uncharacteristic for the Rays, who usually excel in defensive play. It was their first postseason game with four errors in franchise history, and they hadn’t committed four errors in a single regular-season game for a long time.
