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MLB playoffs 2023: Rangers, Twins, Diamondbacks and Phillies advance with Wild Card Series sweeps

The Philadelphia Phillies pose for photographs after the team's win over the Miami Marlins in their wild-card playoff series Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

The Philadelphia Phillies pose for photographs after the team's win over the Miami Marlins in their wild-card playoff series Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Posted Thursday, October 5, 2023 8:46 am

By The Associated Press

Two and done. Across the board.

Texas, Minnesota, Arizona and Philadelphia finished off postseason sweeps Wednesday as all four best-of-three 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.

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