In 2022, MLB introduced a new Wild Card format — as a third non-division-winning playoff squad was added to each league for a total of 12 postseason teams, the opening round also saw some changes.
Previously, the MLB Wild Card round was just one game. Teams would immediately jump to a winner-take-all matchup, with a trip to the division series on the line. But with the changes in 2022, the Wild Card round is now a best-of-three series — yet since that switch-up was made, teams that won Game 1 of the series were dominating.
Until Thursday night, a Wild Card team that lost Game 1 of the three-game series had never advanced to the ALDS or NLDS. That is, until the New York Yankees leaned on their rookie pitcher, Cam Schlittler, in a 4-0 win over the Boston Red Sox to head to the 2025 ALDS.
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Here’s a look at the history of Game 1 winners’ dominance in MLB’s newest Wild Card format, which the Yankees snapped in 2025.
MORE: Cam Schlitter’s ranking among most strikeouts by rookie pitcher in postseason
MLB Wild Card Game 1 winners record under new format
There have now been a total of 16 Wild Card series since 2022, when MLB introduced the best-of-three format. It took four years for a Game 1 loser in the series to overcome the odds and advance.
Including Thursday’s Game 3 victories from the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers, all 15 teams who won the opening matchup of a best-of-three Wild Card series, through the first 15 matchups, had advanced in the postseason one way or another.
Led by Schlittler, who tossed eight shutout innings in a winner-takes-all matchup, the Yankees broke that streak with a 4-0 win in Game 3 over the Red Sox. New York lost Game 1 of the Wild Card series 3-1, as Boston ace Garrett Crochet dominated the Yankees’ bats.
The @Yankees are the first team under the current Wild Card format to lose Game 1 and go on to win the series 😎#Postseason pic.twitter.com/RAybGjwbWT
— MLB (@MLB) October 3, 2025
However, New York bounced back against its historic rival, winning Game 2 by a score of 4-3, then cruising in Game 3. No longer can Game 1 victories in the Wild Card series be considered a surefire sign of success in the MLB postseason.
MORE: Full history of Red Sox vs. Yankees in the postseason
MLB Wild Card Game 1 winners since 2022
Here’s a look at every Game 1 winner in MLB’s Wild Card series since 2022, when the new format began, as well as if that team advanced to the divisional round.
| Season | Matchup | Game 1 Winner | Series Winner |
| 2022 | Philadelphia Phillies vs. St. Louis Cardinals | Phillies | Phillies (2-0) |
| 2022 | San Diego Padres vs. New York Mets | Padres | Padres (2-1) |
| 2022 | Cleveland Guardians vs. Tampa Bay Rays | Guardians | Guardians (2-0) |
| 2022 | Seattle Mariners vs. Toronto Blue Jays | Mariners | Mariners (2-0) |
| 2023 | Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Milwaukee Brewers | Diamondbacks | Diamondbacks (2-0) |
| 2023 | Philadelphia Phillies vs. Miami Marlins | Phillies | Phillies (2-0) |
| 2023 | Minnesota Twins vs. Toronto Blue Jays | Twins | Twins (2-0) |
| 2023 | Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays | Rangers | Rangers (2-0) |
| 2024 | New York Mets vs. Milwaukee Brewers | Mets | Mets (2-1) |
| 2024 | San Diego Padres vs. Atlanta Braves | Padres | Padres (2-0) |
| 2024 | Detroit Tigers vs. Houston Astros | Tigers | Tigers (2-0) |
| 2024 | Kansas City Royals vs. Baltimore Orioles | Royals | Royals (2-0) |
| 2025 | San Diego Padres vs. Chicago Cubs | Cubs | Cubs (2-1) |
| 2025 | Cincinnati Reds vs. Los Angeles Dodgers | Dodgers | Dodgers (2-0) |
| 2025 | Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Guardians | Tigers | Tigers (2-1) |
| 2025 | Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees | Red Sox | Yankees (2-1) |
