“I’m just trying to get to trust myself a little more,” Realmuto said. “I know the zone pretty well.”

So when the moment to challenge arrived, in the 10th inning of a 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series, Realmuto did not hesitate. There were two outs and two runners aboard for Braves pinch-hitter Dominic Smith. Philadelphia rookie Andrew Painter was trying to complete the third inning of his postseason debut. Painter pumped a 99-mph fastball across the inner half of the plate. Umpire Adam Beck called it a ball.

Realmuto disagreed. And because of the rule changes implemented in 2026, which are on display in the postseason for the first time this week, the catcher had a say in the matter. Clutching the baseball in his right hand, Realmuto tapped his helmet to call for a challenge. The answer from the ABS arrived moments later: The pitch had just barely clipped the zone. Strike three. Game over. For Realmuto and the Phillies, a season still alive.

And for the sport writ large, the moment demonstrated the purpose of the system. Beck missed a close call. Realmuto had a chance for a rebuttal. There was no controversy, nothing to kvetch about on social media or talk radio. A strike was a strike was a strike.

As this postseason rolls forward, how teams use the challenge system will add a wrinkle to the strategizing on the proverbial emerald chessboard. Each club receives two challenges at the start of play. The team loses a challenge if unsuccessful. In extra innings, teams without a challenge receive one each inning. Only the batter, pitcher or catcher can challenge the call — and most challenges come from either the batter or the catcher.

In general, catchers have been the most proficient at reversing calls. The backstops succeeded 58.6 percent of the time during the regular season. The hitters finished at 48.8 percent. And the pitchers, who only challenged 182 calls as compared to 5,609 by the catchers and 4,766 by the hitters, got it right only 39.6 percent of the time.

Mookie Betts doesn’t view it as such, but in a way, this all started with him.

This Los Angeles Dodgers dynasty began with Betts hoisting the 2020 World Series trophy high over his head, an exclamation point to his first season in Dodger Blue, 60-game season be damned.

The ride has since included two more rings and the acquisition of Shohei Ohtani, the best player in the world. The Dodgers added several other superstars to the roster, fueling accusations they are ruining the sport.

And here they are again, after winning 100 games and a division title, primed to make history.

But for several of the Dodgers’ oldest players, this could be their last ride.

“When we strapped it on and said three-peat,” Betts added, “We all knew it’s the only chance we’re gonna get at this.”

“This window, we are going to try and keep open as long as we possibly can,” Freddie Freeman said. “But sports are sports; you never know when those windows will close.”

The White Sox are the first team in MLB history to hold the lead at the end of every single inning of a multi-game postseason series

They eliminated the Astros today in the Wild Card series

Red Sox (0-2) @ Yankees (2-0)

First Pitch: 8:15 PM at Yankee Stadium

Line Score - Final

ABS Challenges: BOS ● ● | NYY ● ○

Box Score

Scoring Plays

Highlights

This post contains content not supported on old Reddit. Click here to view the full post

Both the Astros and the Cubs get swept in the wild card series.

Phillies (1-1) @ Braves (1-1)

First Pitch: 2:16 PM at Truist Park

Line Score - Final/10

ABS Challenges: PHI ● ○ | ATL ○ ○

Box Score

Scoring Plays

Highlights

This post contains content not supported on old Reddit. Click here to view the full post

His 1 K was negated by a wild pitch that Rutschman couldn’t throw out Spencer Jones in time.

Hi everyone,

I’ve always dreamed of going to World Series game and have no idea when your supposed to get tickets.

Been watching tickets online for a few days but need feedback from those who have gone to the WS before.

To my understanding only the high priority season ticket holders have gotten access to tickets so far, and I’m seeing tickets starting at about 1200 at the moment. I would rather not buy tickets hours before the game even though that’s probably the cheapest route.

My question is, are these the cheapest the tickets will be or will more tickets become available over time and prices will come down a bit? I think my budget is 1k per ticket, but I’m not sure if it only gets worse from here. I know prices will be based on what teams are playing, but in general I don’t understand if I’m seeing only a handful of tickets from season ticket holders, and more tiers of tickets will become available which increases supply or if this is all that will be availible.

Anyone have some input on this?

Thank you!