Atlanta Braves NL Wild Card Race Report: September 18

Tuesday's games weren't a total loss for the Atlanta Braves, as three of the four wild-card teams suffered losses, but their unfortunate collapse in the late innings now casts a large shadow with such close margins. The Mets stayed on course, extending the Braves' comeback to secure a spot back in the playoffs.

Colorado Rockies (59-93) 8, Arizona Diamondbacks (83-68) 2

Match report | Savant | Highlights

The highlight of Tuesday's games was the Arizona Diamondbacks, who once again struggled to take advantage of the high altitude and scored just two runs, losing to the underachieving Colorado Rockies for the second straight game. The D'Backs entered with their worst starter – Jordan Montgomery – making his first appearance since being moved to the bullpen in late August, and it went about as well as you could imagine. Montgomery allowed three early runs, and after a mid-inning stalemate, the Rockies got to the middle of Arizona's bullpen and were able to pull away late in the game. Colorado started with two runs in the second inning, and then for the second straight game it was Ezequiel Tovar who gave the Rockies the edge they needed, leaving the yard in the third inning to give the Rockies a 3-0 lead. That was all Ryan Feltner needed, as the breakout starter's fantastic September continued into the seventh inning, in which he allowed just one run.

Tovar again provided assistance when his single capped a two-run sixth inning, and Colorado rallied from there. The Diamondbacks got a Christian Walker home run in the eighth to increase their total, but the Rockies followed with two more runs in the bottom of the inning to put the game out of reach for good. It was truly a team affair, as every Rockie either scored or drove in a run, with Tovar leading the way on the day with three hits and two RBIs. This result is huge for Atlanta, as they certainly didn't expect the Diamondbacks to lose this series, although unfortunately the Braves haven't given us a chance to celebrate Arizona's woes yet.

New York Mets (83-68) 10, Washington Nationals (68-83) 1

Match report | Savant | Highlights

I've never felt so much sadness watching an Acuna hit a home run, but Luisangel's big day at the plate — including his first home run — contributed to the disintegration of Washington's pitching staff in this game. Nationals starter Mitchell Parker has posted significant home/road splits this season, posting a fantastic 2.81 ERA and 17.5% K-BB% at home. On the road, however, he allowed a 6.61 ERA and his K-BB% dipped to 9.8%, and that difference showed when the Mets trampled Parker behind their fans at Citi Field. Tylor Megill was great for New York, but Washington was able to get an early lead when Acuna missed a weak throw to second base and the ball bounced off his foot, allowing all runners to advance safely. A ground out brought a run home, but the Mets got that run and more back and quickly pulled away.

It took Acuna just half an inning to make up for his mistake, hitting a 109.5 mph double into the gap in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game. The Mets followed suit, loading the bases, still with no outs in the inning, and a jam-shot bloop by Pete Alonso behind first base brought in two runs and put the Mets ahead 3-1. A sacrifice brought home the fourth run of the inning, but New York just kept piling up runs. Francisco Alvarez crushed a hanging changeup for Parker and hit a solo home run in the next inning, and the bullpen fared no better. New York had the seven highest exit velocities in the game and 12 total over 100 mph, including Pete Alonso's sixth-inning home run. Finally, it was time for Acuna to get back in the fun, hitting a 414-foot low sinker for his third hit of the game and his first career home run. The Mets are now 12-4 in September and will field Jose Quintana, who has allowed just one earned run in his last 25 innings, in their next game.

San Diego Padres (86-66) 3, Houston Astros (82-69) 4 F/10

Match report | Savant | Highlights

This was a terrific game, and that rating is certainly helped by the fact that the team Braves fans wanted prevailed in extra innings. Both sides pitched well in this game, but San Diego Padres starter Michael King was on a whole other level, continuing his streak of dominance that stretches back to early June. In 18 starts since then, he's been one of the best in baseball, with a 2.37 ERA and FIP, and on Tuesday he was one of the best pitchers in action, covering seven two-run innings. King got into a little trouble in the first inning after having to face the middle of the Astros' lineup following a leadoff bunt single by Jose Altuve and a walk by Yordan Alvarez, but he eked out a win, forcing a weak line out and two strikeouts and getting nine straight outs before the Astros caught him in the fourth inning. Kyle Tucker led off with a 101 mph single, and although King got lucky when a Yainer Diaz fly ball fell dangerously into the glove of Jackson Merrill, a Bregman single and an oops double from Jon Singleton brought home a run. Houston was able to add another with a ground out from Jeremy Pena, but their lead could not be held as King again settled down, striking out 11 of the final 12 batters.

Stros starter Hunter Brown matched and even outperformed King for most of his start, as the Padres couldn't see through him the first two times in the order. Brown allowed just one hard-hit ball in five innings, but the Padres had plenty of contact and the third time in the order the switch was flipped. Fernando Tatis Jr. led off the sixth inning with a 112 mph single and in a flash Manny Machado tied it by putting a hanging curveball in the second row in left center field. It was a new ball game and this game belonged to two fantastic groups of relievers.

Houston pulled deadline signing Jason Adam in the eighth inning and was surely glad to be out of the fight with King. Yordan Alvarez hit a 112 mph double to create some danger early, and Adam shot himself in the foot with errors. A balk brought Alvarez to third base and put him in position to score on a curveball that went past Elias Diaz, who came in as the relief catcher early in the 8th inning. Houston could now rely on the big guns in the bullpen, but Tatis roughed up Ryan Pressly with a 109 mph leadoff double. Pressly managed a ground out of Jurickson Profar and a key strikeout of Machado to get close to the end of the inning, but was subbed out for Josh Hader, who tried to take advantage of a lefty-on-lefty duel. Hader made the out, but with his very first pitch he threw a slider to the backstop that tied the game again. Jeremy Pena started the ninth with a double, but Jose Altuve was called on a controversial play to end the inning, resulting in an egregious toe demonstration and ejection from the Astros star. In the end, it didn't matter, as Kyle Tucker hit an RBI single to left to put Houston ahead early in the tenth. Hector Neris struck out Tatis in the ninth with two runners on base, then Grae Kissinger grabbed a rocket hit from Manny Machado with the bases loaded to end the game.

And here are your current NL Wild Card standings (playoff odds via FanGraphs):

Fathers 86-66, +2.5, 99.5% playoff chances (no change)

Diamondbacks 83-68, —, 78.0% playoff chances (-5.7%)

Mets 83-68, —, 71.0% playoff chances (+14.9%)

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Brave 81-70, -2.0, 51.5% playoff chances (-8.9%)

This is a significant loss for the Braves and the biggest single-day dent in their playoff chances this season, but Arizona's difficulties have prevented them from falling too far.