“Wild card Game 1” refers to the opener of a best-of-three MLB Wild Card Series. The NFL’s wild card round has no Games 1, 2 or 3 — each of its matchups is a single elimination game — so this terminology is baseball-only.
What Game 1 does and does not decide
The higher seed hosts all three games of the round, so Game 1 carries no home-field implication for the rest of the series; the teams simply return to the same ballpark the next day. A Game 1 win does not eliminate anyone, but it puts the loser into a must-win situation in Game 2. All four series in a league open on the same day, in staggered time slots.
2026 Wild Card Series, Game 1
All four openers were played on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
| Time (ET) | Game | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2 p.m. | Phillies at Braves | Atlanta Braves 5, Philadelphia Phillies 3 |
| 5 p.m. | White Sox at Astros | Chicago White Sox 6, Houston Astros 3 |
| 8 p.m. | Red Sox at Yankees | New York Yankees 9, Boston Red Sox 0 |
| 10 p.m. | Cubs at Padres | San Diego Padres 8, Chicago Cubs 0 |
All four Game 1 winners went on to win their series in 2026, although Atlanta needed all three games to do it.
Two of the four openers were shutouts. The Yankees’ 9–0 win was the highest-scoring shutout in the history of the wild card round, and San Diego’s 8–0 win was the largest postseason shutout in Padres franchise history, with the starting pitcher carrying a no-hitter into the seventh inning. Chicago’s win at Houston was the White Sox’s first postseason road victory since Game 1 of the 2020 Wild Card Series.
Game 1 in the single-game era
Between 2012 and 2021 there was no Game 1 at all, because the wild card round was one winner-take-all game per league. Those eighteen games are listed on MLB wild card game history. The best-of-three format arrived as a one-off in 2020 and permanently in 2022.
Next in the series: wild card Game 2, which can clinch or force a decider, and wild card Game 3.
Sources: MLB.com, “How to watch the 2026 Wild Card Series on NBC and Peacock”; Wikipedia, “Wild Card Series”, “2026 American League Wild Card Series” and “2026 National League Wild Card Series”.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is wild card Game 1?
The opening game of a best-of-three MLB Wild Card Series. It is played at the higher seed's ballpark, like the rest of the series.
When was Game 1 of the 2026 Wild Card Series?
Tuesday, September 29, 2026, with all four series opening the same day in staggered time slots.
Is there a Game 1 in the NFL wild card round?
No. NFL wild card games are single elimination, so each matchup is one game only.