The 2026 MLB playoff field is officially locked in, with Wild Card Series kicking off on Tuesday afternoon. After a grueling regular season, four best-of-three matchups are set to launch this postseason before the top seeds even join the fray. Those winners will advance to the League Division Series, eventually battling through the best-of-seven League Championship Series and then, of course, the best-of-seven World Series. It’s almost Halloween, and we’re about to crown a new champion!
The American League Playoff Picture Is WILD
Over in the American League, the No. 1 Rays and No. 2 Guardians clinched those crucial first-round byes. That’s a huge advantage, letting them recharge while the rest of the league dukes it out. But the Wild Card Series? They’re gonna be absolutely bonkers. We’ve got the No. 3 Astros battling the No. 6 White Sox, a real clash of titans. Then it’s the No. 4 Yankees going head-to-head with the No. 5 Red Sox. You know that rivalry series is going to be must-watch TV! CBS Sports MLB writer Mike Axisa is leaning towards the Yankees to come out of the AL, despite noting Aaron Judge’s health concerns. He thinks New York’s pitching is “tremendous” and that even without Judge, they have “enough firepower.” The big worry for him is an “overworked bullpen,” but hey, guys always find that extra gear in October, right?
National League Has Its Own Twists and Turns
Meanwhile, the National League is shaping up for some serious drama, too. The No. 1 Brewers and No. 2 Dodgers secured their first-round byes, giving them a leg up. But the Wild Card matchups are just as intense. The No. 3 Braves are taking on the No. 6 Phillies, which could easily be an instant classic. And down in the No. 4 vs. No. 5 slot, it’s the Padres facing off against the Cubs. Talk about some potential upsets! Dayn Perry, another CBS Sports MLB writer, has the Brewers winning it all, despite their “lack of power,” because of their “deepest and most balanced roster.” Mike Axisa, though, is picking the Dodgers to win the World Series. He admits the Dodgers are “more vulnerable than the last two years,” especially with Shohei Ohtani “clearly isn’t 100% physically.” But man, that Dodgers rotation is insane: Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow. Axisa thinks Josue De Paula is going to be huge in October, forcing his way into the everyday lineup. Perry believes the Dodgers’ core “seems a good bit older and a good bit more injured” than last year. Talk about conflicting predictions! Axisa summed it up perfectly for his own bracket, saying he doesn’t “feel strongly about it at all.” He’s just sticking with the “just pick who you think are the best teams, stupid” approach. It’s always a crapshoot!
This playoff field is set for absolute fireworks, and with the Wild Card Series kicking off on Tuesday, we’re in for a wild ride to Halloween. Get ready for some high-stakes baseball action!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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