Top storyline for each Wild Card Series Game 2

Key Points:

• The Phillies showed promise in Game 1 of their postseason series with timely hitting and strategic bullpen use by interim manager Don Mattingly, but a critical fastball mistake by closer Jhoan Duran in the eighth inning shifted momentum to the Braves.
• The Astros continue to struggle in postseason home games, having lost eight straight since the 2023 ALDS, reflecting their overall underperformance this season, particularly in pitching and offense outside of Yordan Alvarez.
• Astros pitcher Brown offers hope for Game 2, having posted a strong 2.47 ERA over his last eight starts and performing well against the White Sox this year, which is crucial given the Astros' recent heavy bullpen usage.
• The Red Sox’s offensive woes persisted into the postseason, scoring the fewest runs in MLB during September, while the Yankees’ pitchers, including Schlittler and Fried, have effectively contained Boston’s lineup, lessening the immediate need for star hitter Aaron Judge.
• Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong had an outstanding regular season but has struggled in the postseason, going 5-for-30 overall and 0-for-11 recently, raising concerns about a potential quiet playoff exit despite his historic year.