The 2026 Major League Baseball postseason is the playoff tournament of Major League Baseball (MLB) for the 2026 season. The winners of the Wild Card Series will face the two best division winners (seeds) in each league in the Division Series, and the victors will advance to the League Championship Series to determine the pennant winners, who then play each other in the 2026 World Series. The postseason began on September 29.
In the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays returned to the postseason for the sixth time in the last eight years (2019–2023, 2026). Joining them were the New York Yankees, who clinched their third consecutive playoff berth (2024–2026) and the tenth in the last twelve years (2015, 2017–2022, 2024–2026), as well as the Boston Red Sox, who returned for the second consecutive season (2025–2026) and sixth in the last eleven years (2016–2018, 2021, 2025–2026). The Chicago White Sox clinched their third postseason berth in seven years (2020–2021). The Cleveland Guardians clinched their third consecutive playoff berth (2024–2026) and fifth in the last seven years (2020, 2022, 2024–2026), and the Houston Astros returned for the tenth time in the last twelve seasons (2015, 2017–2024, 2026), becoming the first team in MLB history to win their division without a winning record.
In the National League, the Atlanta Braves returned to the postseason for the eighth time in the last nine years (2018−2024, 2026). The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their fourteenth straight postseason berth (2013–2026), tying the Braves for the longest postseason appearance streak in league history (the Braves previously made fourteen straight postseason appearances from 1991 to 2005, excluding 1994, when the postseason was canceled due to a strike). Also returning are the Milwaukee Brewers, who returned for the fourth consecutive season (2023–2026) and the eighth time in the last nine years (2018–2021, 2023–2026). The Chicago Cubs returned for their second consecutive season (2025–2026) and the seventh appearance in the last 12 years (2015–2018, 2020, 2025–2026), marking just the fourth time ever that both Chicago teams made it to the postseason (1906, 2008, 2020). The San Diego Padres for the first time in franchise history clinched their third consecutive playoff berth (2024–2026) and fifth in the last seven years (2020, 2022, 2024–2026), and the Philadelphia Phillies made their fifth consecutive postseason appearance (2022–2026).
Teams
The following teams qualified for the postseason:
American League Tampa Bay Rays — 98–64, AL East champions, best record in AL Cleveland Guardians — 85–77, AL Central champions Houston Astros — 81–81, AL West champions New York Yankees — 93–68 Boston Red Sox — 87–75 Chicago White Sox — 84–78
National League Milwaukee Brewers — 103–59, NL Central champions, best record in NL, MLB best record Los Angeles Dodgers — 100–62, NL West champions Atlanta Braves — 94–68, NL East champions San Diego Padres — 91–71 Chicago Cubs — 89–73 Philadelphia Phillies — 88–74
Playoff bracket
American League Wild Card Series
(3) Houston Astros vs. (6) Chicago White Sox
This was the third postseason meeting between the Astros and White Sox. Their previous meetings were the 2005 World Series (when the Astros were members of the National League) and the ALDS in 2021, with the White Sox sweeping the former, and the Astros winning the latter before falling in the World Series. The White Sox swept the Astros to advance to the ALDS for the first time since 2021.
An RBI double from Sam Antonacci and a solo homer from Colson Montgomery helped secure Game 1 for the White Sox. An RBI single by Kyle Teel got the scoring started early for Chicago as they led for the entirety of Game 2, completing the sweep and handing the Astros their sixth straight playoff game loss dating back to the 2023 ALCS. This was the first playoff series win by the White Sox since the 2005 World Series, which was also a sweep over the Astros.
(4) New York Yankees vs. (5) Boston Red Sox
This was the seventh postseason meeting in the history of the Red Sox–Yankees rivalry (1999, 2003, 2004, 2018, 2021, 2025). The Yankees swept the Red Sox to advance to the ALDS for the eighth time in ten years.
This series was heavily lopsided in favor of the Yankees. Cam Schlittler pitched six innings of shutout ball as the Yankees blew out the Red Sox in Game 1. In Game 2, Max Fried pitched six shutout innings and Cody Bellinger and Luis Garcia Jr. both homered for the Yankees as they blew out the Red Sox again to advance. This was the first postseason series sweep by either team in the history of the rivalry.
With the win, the Yankees improved to 4–3 against the Red Sox in the postseason, previously winning in 1999, 2003, and the previous season.
National League Wild Card Series
(3) Atlanta Braves vs. (6) Philadelphia Phillies
This was the fourth postseason meeting between the Braves and Phillies (1993, 2022, 2023). The Phillies have won all three previous meetings. This time, the Braves returned the favor, defeating the Phillies in three games to advance to the NLDS for the seventh time in nine years.
In Game 1, the Phillies held a 3–2 lead after seven innings, but it evaporated in the bottom of the eighth when Austin Riley launched a three-run home run to secure a comeback win for the Braves. Game 2 saw a reversed script: the Braves led 3–1 heading into the eighth, only for the Phillies to force extra innings behind solo shots from Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper. Alec Bohm then broke the tie with his own solo homer in the top of the tenth to put Philadelphia ahead for good, evening the series. However, that momentum stalled as the Braves bounced back in Game 3. Powered by home runs from Michael Harris II, Ozzie Albies, and Matt Olson, Atlanta built an early cushion that they never relinquished, exacting long-awaited revenge on the team that eliminated them three straight times.
This victory marked the Braves' first postseason series win since the 2021 World Series, and concluded as the only Wild Card series of the 2026 postseason that was not decided in a sweep.
(4) San Diego Padres vs. (5) Chicago Cubs
This was the third postseason meeting between the Cubs and Padres (1984, 2025). The Padres swept the Cubs to advance to the NLDS for the fourth time in six years.
Michael King pitched seven innings of shutout ball as the Padres blew out the Cubs in Game 1. A two-run RBI single from Xander Bogaerts and a two-run home run from Gavin Sheets secured a Padres victory in Game 2, completing the sweep. Game 2 was notable for a controversial moment involving Cubs pitcher Daniel Palencia, who hit Padres infielder Jake Cronenworth with his next pitch after surrendering the home run to Sheets. The Padres’ players shouted obscenities at Palencia, however the situation was deescalated and no further incidents occurred afterward.
With the win, the Padres improved to 2–1 against the Cubs in the postseason.
American League Division Series
(1) Tampa Bay Rays vs. (4) New York Yankees
If necessary
This is the second postseason meeting between the Rays and Yankees. They last met in the ALDS in 2020, which the Rays won in five games before falling in the World Series.
(2) Cleveland Guardians vs. (6) Chicago White Sox
If necessary
This is the first postseason meeting between the Guardians and White Sox.
National League Division Series
(1) Milwaukee Brewers vs. (4) San Diego Padres
If necessary
This is the first postseason meeting between the Brewers and Padres, both expansion teams from 1969. The Padres won the regular season series, 4–2, against the Brewers.
(2) Los Angeles Dodgers vs. (3) Atlanta Braves
This is the sixth postseason matchup between the Dodgers and Braves (1996, 2013, 2018, 2020, 2021), tying Reds–Pirates, Dodgers–Cardinals and Dodgers–Phillies for the most frequent postseason matchups in the National League.
Broadcasting Television coverage NBC Sports had coverage of the four Wild Card Series, with games split between the NBC broadcast network and NBCSN (two series each, one from each league), replacing ESPN/ABC.
TBS and TruTV have coverage of the American League Division Series and American League Championship Series.
Fox Sports (either on the Fox broadcast network and/or FS1) have coverage of the National League Division Series and National League Championship Series. The World Series will air on the Fox broadcast network for the 27th consecutive year.
Spanish-language broadcasts are available on Universo for select NBC Sports games (and streaming on Peacock for games not on the channel), Fox Deportes for Fox Sports' games, and MLB Network for TBS's games.
Streaming Peacock will stream all four Wild Card Series. TBS's games will be available on HBO Max's ad-free tiers, while Fox Sports games will be available on Fox One.
Radio ESPN Radio airs the entire Major League Baseball postseason.
Notes
References
External links Major League Baseball Standings and Expanded Standings – 2026