Thanks for coming: three wild card series end in sweeps

 Man, that was quick.

Boston, Houston, & the Chicago Cubs were all swept out of the playoffs Wednesday, leaving Atlanta & Philadelphia to decide who gets to play the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the division round.

The Phillies forced a deciding game with a late rally against the Braves' bullpen. Kyle Schwarber & Bryce Harper homered in the 8th, and Alec Bohm added an opposite field shot in the 10th, to give the "Fightin' Phils" a 4-3 win. Game 3 is tonight at 8 pm (NBC/Peacock).

The Chicago White Sox, blessed via a letter from Pope Leo, eliminated Houston,7-3. There are rumors the Astros could move on from manager Joe Espada after 3 seasons, including 2 division titles.

The Yankees dismissed Boston, 9-2, proving they can win without star slugger Aaron Judge.

San Diego downed the Cubs, 4-1, so if TBS & Fox were hoping to get big numbers if the Cubs and their MVP candidate, Pete Crow-Armstrong, advanced, it's not happening.

At least the Padres know where they're going. They'll play Milwaukee in the division round. In the AL, it'll be another East clash between the Yanks and Tampa Bay, while Chicago will play Central rival Cleveland.

White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf joked that he might actually convert to Catholicism, amused by the letter from the Pope. Well, at least we know who they're rooting for at the Vatican.......