Here we are — the 2026 MLB Postseason.
While the Brewers are awaiting an opponent for the National League Division Series, eight teams will compete in four Wild Card Series this week. Let’s take a quick look at each of the matchups. All times listed in Central Time.
AL Wild Card Series: (3) Houston Astros vs. (6) Chicago White Sox
This series is just a sample of how the National League’s playoff field is much deeper than the American League’s — neither of these teams would have made the postseason if they were on the other side. In fact, the Astros, at 81-81, finished
with what would have been the ninth-best record in the NL, behind even the 82-80 Pirates. Alas, one of these squads will make it to the NLCS against the Guardians next weekend. The Astros have a bit of an edge here just because of home-field advantage, but the White Sox, who were arguably the biggest surprise in all of baseball, will certainly give them a run for their money. Chicago led the AL Central for a decent chunk of the season and ultimately finished just one game behind Cleveland for the No. 2 seed in the AL.
Schedule
- Game 1: Tuesday, Sept. 29 @ 4:00 p.m. (Peacock & NBC Sports Network)
- Game 2: Wednesday, Sept. 30 @ 4:00 p.m. (Peacock & NBC Sports Network)
- Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 1 @ 4:00 p.m. (Peacock & NBC Sports Network)
Team Rankings
Astros:
- Offense: .242/.315/.417 (.732 OPS ranks seventh); 226 HRs (first); 734 runs (13th); 50 SBs (last)
- Pitching: 4.45 team ERA (24th); 4.81 starter ERA (27th); 4.08 reliever ERA (17th); 1,411 Ks (ninth)
White Sox:
- Offense: .236/.320/.406 (.726 OPS ranks ninth); 211 HRs (fifth); 776 runs (fifth); 93 SBs (tied for 18th)
- Pitching: 4.12 team ERA (15th); 4.60 starter ERA (26th); 3.70 reliever ERA (eighth); 1,337 Ks (tied for 16th)
Projected Pitching Matchups
- Game 1: RHP AJ Blubaugh (HOU) vs. LHP Hagen Smith (CWS)
- Game 2: TBD (HOU) vs. TBD (CWS)
- Game 3: TBD (HOU) vs. TBD (CWS)
Prediction
This is a pair of strong offenses and a pair of mediocre pitching staffs, which means I’d expect we’ll see some high-scoring, back-and-forth games. The Astros have home-field advantage, and they also have the better offense, but the White Sox have a very slight edge on the mound. I’ll take the Astros to win in three games.
AL Wild Card Series: (4) New York Yankees vs. (5) Boston Red Sox
A rematch of last year’s AL Wild Card Series, the Yankees took two of three against Boston in three low-scoring games — Boston won the first game 3-1 before the Yankees took the last two games by finals of 4-3 and 4-0. It’s hard to say what we should expect this time around, as the Red Sox have had one of the better offenses in baseball in the second half and the Yankees have arguably the best pitching staff, though the Red Sox’s staff isn’t much worse.
Schedule
- Game 1: Tuesday, Sept. 29 @ 7:00 p.m. (NBC & Peacock)
- Game 2: Wednesday, Sept. 30 @ 7:00 p.m. (NBC & Peacock)
- Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 1 @ 7:00 p.m. (NBC & Peacock)
Team Rankings
Yankees:
- Offense: .235/.311/.409 (.720 OPS ranks tied for 11th); 223 HRs (second); 739 runs (tied for ninth); 153 SBs (sixth)
- Pitching: 3.24 team ERA (first); 3.30 starter ERA (first); 3.15 reliever ERA (second); 1,450 Ks (tied for sixth)
Red Sox:
- Offense: .245/.319/.397 (.716 OPS ranks 19th); 163 HRs (26th); 689 runs (23rd); 107 SBs (14th)
- Pitching: 3.54 team ERA (third); 3.92 starter ERA (eighth); 3.00 reliever ERA (first); 1,398 Ks (11th)
Projected Pitching Matchups
- Game 1: RHP Cam Schlittler (NYY) vs. LHP Payton Tolle (BOS)
- Game 2: LHP Max Fried (NYY) vs. RHP Sonny Gray (BOS)
- Game 3: RHP Gerrit Cole (NYY) vs. LHP Ranger Suarez (BOS)
Prediction
The key to this series is which version of Boston shows up — they looked terrible through late June, had the best month of July of any MLB team, and feel back down to earth over the last month and a half. If that July/early August team shows up, I’d easily pick the Red Sox, but I think they got hot too early. I’ll take the Yankees to win two out of three for the second straight year.
NL Wild Card Series: (3) Atlanta Braves vs. (6) Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies backed their way into the final NL Wild Card spot, as the Arizona Diamondbacks nearly replaced them in the playoff field before Philadelphia finally clinched on the final day of the season. The Phils will look to make people forget about that as they have a chance to knock out their division foes in the Braves after doing exactly that in 2022 and 2023, beating them in the NLDS both years. The Braves, meanwhile, have bounced back nicely in 2026 after a very disappointing 2025, and they locked up the NL East with a 94-win season behind a solid offense and even better pitching staff.
Schedule
- Game 1: Tuesday, Sept. 29 @ 1:00 p.m. (NBC & Peacock)
- Game 2: Wednesday, Sept. 30 @ 1:00 p.m. (NBC & Peacock)
- Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 1 @ 1:00 p.m. (NBC & Peacock)
Team Rankings
Braves:
- Offense: .246/.309/.409 (.718 OPS ranks tied for 16th); 204 HRs (tied for seventh); 742 runs (eighth); 83 SBs (tied for 23rd)
- Pitching: 3.63 team ERA (fifth); 3.76 starter ERA (sixth); 3.44 reliever ERA (fourth); 1,350 Ks (15th)
Phillies:
- Offense: .240/.312/.395 (.707 OPS ranks 22nd); 182 HRs (tied for 16th); 713 runs (19th); 105 SBs (15th)
- Pitching: 4.04 team ERA (11th); 3.80 starter ERA (seventh); 4.43 reliever ERA (21st); 1,577 Ks (first)
Projected Pitching Matchups
- Game 1: LHP Chris Sale (ATL) vs. LHP Jesús Luzardo (PHI)
- Game 2: TBD (ATL) vs. TBD (PHI)
- Game 3: TBD (ATL) vs. TBD (PHI)
Prediction
Had the Phillies not had to fight their way to the postseason until the last day of the regular season, I would have been inclined to take them in a short series behind their strong starting pitching, but after they were forced to use their top starters in the final weekend, that advantage may not be there. Having Chris Sale going in game 1 helps the Braves in a major way — I’ll take Atlanta to sweep.
NL Wild Card Series: (4) San Diego Padres vs. (5) Chicago Cubs
Another rematch from last year, this one has changed locations as the Padres caught fire in September to storm atop the NL Wild Card standings, claiming the No. 4 seed as they’ll host the No. 5 seed Cubs, who struggled in the final few weeks of the year. The Cubs, statistically, have the best offense (led by Pete Crow-Armstrong) and defense in baseball, but their bullpen has been dismal, while the Padres have been good in just about every area down the stretch, anchored by their strong bullpen and the second-half resurgence of Fernando Tatis Jr.
Schedule
- Game 1: Tuesday, Sept. 29 @ 9:00 p.m. (Peacock & NBC Sports Network)
- Game 2: Wednesday, Sept. 30 @ 9:00 p.m. (Peacock & NBC Sports Network)
- Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 1 @ 9:00 p.m. (Peacock & NBC Sports Network)
Team Rankings
Padres:
- Offense: .244/.319/.398 (.717 OPS ranks 18th); 183 HRs (tied for 14th); 722 runs (15th); 164 SBs (tied for second)
- Pitching: 3.99 team ERA (10th); 4.42 starter ERA (21st); 3.53 reliever ERA (fifth); 1,315 Ks (20th)
Cubs:
- Offense: .251/.339/.428 (.767 OPS ranks first); 220 HRs (third); 850 runs (first); 114 SBs (tied for 10th)
- Pitching: 4.12 team ERA (14th); 4.27 starter ERA (18th); 3.90 reliever ERA (13th); 1,260 Ks (26th)
Projected Pitching Matchups
- Game 1: RHP Michael King (SD) vs. LHP Matthew Boyd (CHC)
- Game 2: TBD (SD) vs. TBD (CHC)
- Game 3: TBD (SD) vs. TBD (CHC)
Prediction
Had you asked me at the start of September, I would have picked the Cubs to win this series, perhaps even with a sweep. But the Cubs have been inconsistent all season, so I have no idea what to expect. With that in mind, I’ll take the safer bet and pick the Padres to win two of three and move on to face the Brewers.
