People love their brackets, and Major League Baseball's playoff shootout has something for everybody.
A 103-win club that makes the most of what it has? The Milwaukee Brewers will be waiting for the winner of the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs.
A two-time defending champ going for a rare three-peat? The Los Angeles Dodgers will lurk in the National League bracket until someone knocks them out.
And in the American League, the most compelling action may come early, as East division stalwarts from New York, Boston and Tampa Bay will fight it out to see who advances to the AL Championship Series.
It all begins with a Red Sox-Yankees tilt highlighting the best-of-three wild card series. Follow along with USA TODAY Sports all month:
MLB playoff bracket 2026
American League
- Byes: Tampa Bay Rays (1), Cleveland Guardians (2)
Wild card series
(best of three)
- White Sox* (6) at Astros (3) – Winner faces Guardians in ALDS
- Red Sox* (5) at Yankees* (4) – Winner faces Rays
AL Division Series (best of five)
- Guardians vs. Astros/White Sox
- Rays vs. Yankees/Red Sox
National League
- Byes: Milwaukee Brewers (1), Los Angeles Dodgers (2)
Wild card series (best of three)
- Phillies (6) at Braves# (3) – Winner faces Dodgers in NLDS
- Cubs* (5) at *Padres (4) – Winner faces Brewers
NL Division Series (best of five)
- Brewers vs. Padres/Cubs
- Dodgers vs. Braves/Phillies
MLB wild card schedule
Tuesday, Sept. 29
- NL Game 1: Phillies at Braves – buy tickets – 2 p.m. ET
- AL Game 1: White Sox at Rangers/Astros – buy tickets – 5 p.m. ET
- AL Game 1: Red Sox at Yankees – buy tickets – 8 p.m. ET
- NL Game 1: Cubs at Padres – buy tickets – 10 p.m. ET
Wednesday, Sept. 30
- NL Game 2: Phillies at Braves – buy tickets – 2 p.m. ET
- AL Game 2: White Sox at Astros – buy tickets – 5 p.m. ET
- AL Game 2: Red Sox at Yankees – buy tickets – 8 p.m. ET
- NL Game 2: Cubs at Padres – buy tickets – 10 p.m. ET
Thursday, Oct. 1 (*if necessary)
Game 3 times subject to change
- NL Game 3: Phillies at Braves – buy tickets – 2 p.m. ET
- AL Game 3: White Sox at Astros – buy tickets – 5 p.m. ET
- AL Game 3: Red Sox at Yankees – buy tickets – 8 p.m. ET
- NL Game 3: Cubs at Padres – buy tickets – 10 p.m. ET
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB playoff bracket 2026: See every team's path to World Series
