What happened: Tatis scored from first on a steal in the Wild Card opener, the kind of pressure play that shaped the round. San Diego carried that edge through the series and moved on to face Milwaukee in the NLDS.

Why it matters: October games often turn on one extra base, and Tatis gives San Diego a way to create runs even when power is harder to find. That adds another layer to the Brewers matchup, where every baserunner becomes a leverage point.

What to watch: The next read comes when the NLDS opens against Milwaukee and San Diego tests whether that same aggression carries over against a deeper pitching staff.