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Ranking comeback chances of the four teams that lost Game 1

Breaking down the prospects for the Red Sox, Astros, Cubs and Phillies after Tuesday's games

Published: Wednesday, 30 September 2026 at 5:31 AM
Ranking comeback chances of the four teams that lost Game 1
Key Things to Know
  • Anthony Castrovince ranked the comeback chances of four MLB teams that lost Game 1 of the Wild Card Series.
  • Only three teams in 24 previous Wild Card Series matchups have advanced after losing Game 1.
  • The Boston Red Sox received the best rating to recover, while the Philadelphia Phillies were ranked the lowest.
The Story in 60 Seconds

MLB.com writer Anthony Castrovince ranked the comeback chances of the four teams that dropped Game 1 of the best-of-three Wild Card Series. Historical data shows only three teams in 24 previous matchups have rallied to win after losing the opener. Castrovince rated the Red Sox as having the best comeback odds, followed by the Astros, Cubs, and Phillies on a worst-case scenario scale ranging from 1 to 10.

The Red Sox lost 9-0 to the Yankees, while the Astros fell 6-3 and the Cubs were shut out 8-0 by the Padres. The Phillies suffered a 5-3 loss to the Braves after Austin Riley hit a decisive three-run homer in the eighth inning. Despite their Game 1 defeats, Castrovince notes each trailing club maintains potential advantages in starting pitching for Game 2.

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