MLB expert playoff predictions and wild card picks: Yankees or Red Sox?

The 2026 Major League Baseball playoffs have arrived with the best-of-three wild card series beginning Tuesday, Sept. 29, featuring some marquee matchups led by a New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox showdown in the American League.

In the NL, the San Diego Padres host the Chicago Cubs while the Philadelphia Phillies

visit Atlanta. In the other AL series, the Houston Astros (81-81, the worst record for a playoff team in history) face the Chicago White Sox.

In the four seasons since MLB changed its playoff format in 2022, two teams have played in the wild card series and gone on to win the World Series: the 2023 Texas Rangers and 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers.

Here's how USA TODAY Sports' MLB reporters and editors see the best-of-three wild card series

playing out:

Yankees vs. Red Sox predictions

• Bob Nightengale: Yankees in 3
• Gabe Lacques: Yankees in 2
• Kristie Ackert: Yankees in 3
• Jesse Yomtov: Yankees in 3

Astros vs. White Sox prediction

• Bob Nightengale: White Sox in 3
• Gabe Lacques: White Sox in 3
• Jesse Yomtov: White Sox in 3

Atlanta vs. Phillies prediction

• Bob Nightengale: Atlanta in 3
• Gabe Lacques: Atlanta in 2
• Jesse Yomtov: Phillies in 2

Padres vs. Cubs prediction

• Bob Nightengale: Padres in 2
• Gabe Lacques: Padres in 3
• Kristie Ackert: Cubs in 3
• Jesse Yomtov: Padres in 3

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB expert playoff predictions and wild card picks: Yankees or Red Sox?