Jacob deGrom returns to Citi Field as the Rangers and Mets play in an interleague wild card race game. deGrom pitched a full full-season for the first time since 2019, although he did make it through all of the 2020 pandemic schedule. He is not as dominant, but most pitchers only dream of his 2025 numbers. He faces rookie Jonah Tong, making his third start. He walked four and struck out 12 in 11 innings, but was hurt by three home runs.

The Yankees travel to Boston, the two teams separated by half a game for the top Wild Card slot in the AL. Whichever team wins that battle is likely to be the host of the other for the wild card round, and the Red Sox hold the time breaker. It’s the LuGi game as Luis Gil battles Lucas Giolito. Gil owns a 3.31 ERA in seven starts since returning from a long injury rehabilitation. He walked 23 batters in 35 1/3 innings, but with men on base opponents hit just .188/.280/.234. Giolito’s strikeout rate is down this season, but he made up for it with a .275 BABIP allowed.

Finally, the Dodgers visit the Giants with Yoshinobu Yamamoto taking on Justin Verlander. Yamamoto’s first two career starts against the Giants were poor, but his last one resulted in seven shutout innings. Verlander made three good starts in a row as he tries to keep his career alive.