# Wild Card Series Standouts

> Four pitchers and hitters shine in 2026 Wild Card Series.
- Title: Wild Card Series Standouts · Mlb | Shortify
- Summary: Four pitchers and hitters shine in 2026 Wild Card Series. Four MLB teams showcased standout performances in the 2026 Wild Card Series with unique pitching…
- Keywords: mlb, wild card series, jordan hicks, ben rice, nick pivetta, tyler mahle, al wild card series, nl wild card series, sports, Wild, Card, Series
- Source: Mlb — https://mlb.com/news/standout-performances-from-2026-wild-card-series
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: mlb, wild card series, jordan hicks, ben rice, nick pivetta, tyler mahle, al wild card series, nl wild card series, sports
## White Sox: Jordan Hicks leads a flame-throwing bullpen
Hicks boosted his fastball velocity to 97.1 mph in the AL Wild Card Series, the fastest of any team in postseason play.
## Yankees: Ben Rice continues to mash fastballs
Rice rapped out five hits with 95+ mph exit velocity against fastballs in the AL Wild Card Series.
## Padres: Nick Pivetta's fastball looks sharp
Pivetta allowed one run while recording 10 outs against baseball's best offense in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series.
## Braves: Tyler Mahle's dominant splitter
Mahle threw 55 splitters in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series, the most in a single game in pitch-tracking era history.
## Hicks' velocity surge
Hicks' fastball velocity rose from 94.7 mph in regular season to 97.1 mph in Wild Card Series, the fastest of any team.
## Rice's fastball mastery
Rice led all qualified hitters in slugging percentage (.843) against four-seam fastballs in 2026, with five hits in Wild Card Series.
## Pivetta's rising fastball
Pivetta's fastball induced five whiffs on 16 swings, allowing one run while recording 10 outs against top MLB offense.
## Mahle's splitter dominance
Mahle threw 55 splitters in Game 2 of NL Wild Card Series, generating 13 misses on 35 swings and five strikeouts.
## What happens next
The Braves will need more than just Chris Sale to dethrone the Dodgers in the NLDS, with Mahle's splitter potentially solidifying his role.
## Key takeaway

Four MLB teams showcased standout performances in the 2026 Wild Card Series with unique pitching and hitting strategies.