This year’s MLB Division Series highlighted how the game of baseball often hinges on tiny margins, with several pivotal plays decided by mere inches. In the Brewers-Padres matchup, a dramatic moment in Game 1 occurred when Ty France hit a towering fly ball that struck a roof cable at American Family Field and was caught by Jackson Chourio, leading to an out rather than a potential home run. Game 2 saw Chourio again making a game-winning hit—a hard liner narrowly eluding a diving Jake Cronenworth to secure a walk-off victory for Milwaukee and give them a 2-0 series lead.

The Rays-Yankees series also featured remarkable examples of close calls. Spencer Jones hit a ball off a support ring inside Tropicana Field, which was caught for an out due to specific ground rules. Later, Cody Bellinger smashed a 405-foot ball that stayed in play rather than clearing the fence, costing New York runs in a critical rally. At Yankee Stadium in Game 3, Ryan Vilade connected on a 340-foot home run that just cleared Jones’ jump, giving Tampa Bay the lead. Another key moment came when a fan interference call against Anthony Volpe’s drive prevented the Yankees from tying the game, with officials ruling the ball would not have cleared the fence but allowed Volpe to advance, keeping the score close but unchanged.

Manny Machado experienced heartbreak in the NL Division Series when he was robbed of a game-tying home run in Game 4 by a spectacular catch at Petco Park—the same spot and near-identical play where he was similarly denied during the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Statcast measured the distance of Machado’s hit at 406 feet, making it a likely home run in many stadiums, but on this night it was caught, extinguishing the Padres’ hopes and ending their postseason run shortly afterward.

Overall, the division series has reiterated the old baseball saying that it is truly a game of inches. Whether it’s balls striking roof elements, razor-thin defensive plays, or just a few feet of distance on a hit, these details are shaping the outcomes of games and could have lasting effects on which teams advance. As the postseason advances toward the pennant and World Series, fans and analysts alike will be watching how these razor-edge moments continue to influence the championship chase.