Wild Card round not so wild
Two and done. Across the board. Texas, Minnesota, Arizona and Philadelphia finished off postseason sweeps Wednesday as all four best-ofthree Wild Card Series ended in two games.
A pair of road teams advanced — the Rangers and Diamondbacks — while the Twins and Phillies won at home. That makes seven sweeps in eight Wild Card Series during the first two years of expanded playoffs.
In the American League, Texas will play AL East champion Baltimore in the Division Series, and AL Central champ Minnesota takes on defending World Series champion Houston, which won the AL West, as Twins star shortstop Carlos Correa faces his former team.
In the National League, the young Diamondbacks square off against the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers, and the defending NL champion Phillies head to Atlanta for a playoff rematch with the major league-best Braves, who won their sixth straight NL East title this year.
The schedule is quiet for two days before all four best-of-five Division Series begin Saturday.
Guardians search begins
While thanking outgoing manager
Terry Francona, who will remain with the club in an advisory capacity, Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti told reporters that the search for the club's 2024 manager has already taken its first steps.
The club has an initial list of 45 names, including internal and external candidates. Some interviews have already taken place.
Several members of the current coaching staff could be candidates. One, however, who will not be is first base coach Sandy Alomar Jr., who declined an opportunity to interview but has expressed interest in staying on staff under the new manager if possible.
"The most important thing is that we get the right person, and if we can do that quickly, great," Antonetti said. "But if it takes us a month or longer, then that's the necessary timeframe. But the most important thing is getting the right person."
Votto thanks Reds fans
Joey Votto had a message for Cincinnati Reds fans, saying he was grateful for their "amazing support" in 2023, his 17th season in Major League Baseball and as a Red.
"I bragged about you on the bench to new teammates early in the season and you went above and beyond," Votto wrote in a social media post. "We felt you all year, thank you."
Asked about his future, the longtime first baseman and six-time All-star said he was "still not there yet."
Votto hit .202 with 14 homers in 242 plate appearances this past season.
POSTSEASON SCHEDULE
Division Series: Oct. 7-14
League Championship Series: Oct. 15-24
World Series: Oct. 27-Nov. 4 Reporters Ryan Lewis and Dave Clark contributed to this story.