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Wild Card Series ABS Storylines
Wild Card Series challenges shift with ABS rules as teams compete for playoff dominance.
In brief
Wild Card Series challenges shift with ABS rules as teams compete for playoff dominance. The Wild Card Series features teams with high challenge success rates under new ABS rules, including Phillies' aggressive batters and catchers, Cubs' strong challenge performance, and White Sox catchers' low win rates. Originally…
Wild Card Series ABS Storylines
The Wild Card Series begins under new ABS rules where every ball or strike challenge is magnified, especially in playoff games.
Phillies lead overturns
The Phillies rank No. 1 in MLB by a wide margin in 'Overturns vs. Expected', with batters second and catchers best at overturning calls.
Bryce Harper challenges aggressively
Harper pulls the trigger on 17% of pitches he's allowed to challenge, winning 21 of 47 attempts despite a low success rate.
J.T. Realmuto wins challenges
Realmuto wins 81% of his challenges with a 70-16 record, but he challenges only a quarter of incorrect calls against the Phillies.
Sean Murphy challenges well
Murphy correctly challenges over half his winnable opportunities with a 60% win rate, making Braves pitchers confident in close calls.
Braves hitters challenge poorly
Braves hitters challenged 120 times all season, winning only 42% of challenges, the lowest rate among teams.
Cubs win challenges most
Chicago has won 59% of its challenges this season, the best of any 2026 playoff team, with strong performance from batters and catchers.
Padres challenge poorly
Padres batters win 45% of challenges, and catchers win 54%, both of the lowest rates among teams.
Manny Machado challenges poorly
Machado has a 36% win rate on challenges, the lowest among 67 hitters who challenged at least 20 times.
The main idea
The Wild Card Series features teams with high challenge success rates under new ABS rules, including Phillies' aggressive batters and catchers, Cubs' strong challenge performance, and White Sox catchers' low win rates.
