Game 3 is the deciding game of an MLB Wild Card Series, played only when the teams split the first two games. It is winner-take-all, and like the rest of the round it is played at the higher seed’s ballpark — the host’s reward for the better regular season.
Deciders are rarer than people expect. Through the 2026 postseason, twenty of the twenty-eight Wild Card Series ended in a two-game sweep, leaving just eight Game 3s.
Every Game 3 played
| Year | League | Series | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | AL | Chicago White Sox at Oakland Athletics | Athletics, 2–1 |
| 2020 | NL | St. Louis Cardinals at San Diego Padres | Padres, 2–1 |
| 2022 | NL | San Diego Padres at New York Mets | Padres, 2–1 |
| 2024 | NL | New York Mets at Milwaukee Brewers | Mets, 2–1 |
| 2025 | AL | Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Guardians | Tigers, 2–1 |
| 2025 | AL | Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees | Yankees, 2–1 |
| 2025 | NL | San Diego Padres at Chicago Cubs | Cubs, 2–1 |
| 2026 | NL | Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves | Braves, 2–1 |
The team listed second hosted all three games. Home teams have come through five of the eight deciders: Oakland and San Diego in 2020, the Yankees and Cubs in 2025, and Atlanta in 2026. The visiting side has won three: San Diego at the Mets in 2022, the Mets at Milwaukee in 2024 and Detroit at Cleveland in 2025.
The 2026 decider: Braves 6, Phillies 2
Atlanta won Game 1 and lost Game 2 in ten innings, so the series came down to Thursday, October 1, 2026 at Truist Park, first pitch 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. A three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning put the Braves ahead, a two-run home run in the fourth made it 5–0, and a solo home run in the seventh restored a five-run cushion after Philadelphia’s first run. The Phillies scored again in the eighth but got no closer.
The win was Atlanta’s first postseason series victory over Philadelphia in four attempts, and it sent the Braves to the Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
When no Game 3 is needed
The other three series in 2026 all ended in sweeps, which is why only one game was played on October 1. The round is scheduled as a three-day window regardless, so the deciding day is reserved in advance whether or not anyone needs it. See wild card Game 2 for the games that ended those series.
Sources: Wikipedia, “Wild Card Series” and “2026 National League Wild Card Series”; MLB.com, “How to watch the 2026 Wild Card Series on NBC and Peacock”.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is wild card Game 3?
The deciding game of a best-of-three MLB Wild Card Series, played only when the teams split the first two games. The winner advances to the Division Series.
How many Wild Card Series have gone to Game 3?
Eight of the twenty-eight played through 2026. The other twenty ended in sweeps.
Was there a Game 3 in 2026?
Yes, one: Atlanta beat Philadelphia 6–2 on Thursday, October 1, 2026 to win that series 2–1.