The Major League Baseball regular season is in the books, and the 2026 MLB postseason marathon kicks off Tuesday, September 29.
The initial best-of-three Wild Card series were set after a down-to-the-wire regular-season finish last weekend. Now that we know who’s in and out, here’s my take on which teams to watch this postseason.
National League Byes: Milwaukee Brewers & Los Angeles Dodgers
Bob’s smiling, hoping the best is yet to come (photo, Brewers)
The Milwaukee Brewers (103-59) put together another special regular season, clinching the MLB’s best record for the second straight year and becoming the first team in three years to reach the 100-win plateau. Led by an incredibly balanced lineup and a bullpen that stifles opponents in the late innings, Milwaukee won a franchise-record 103 games and finished tied for the best home record in baseball. They will hold home-field advantage throughout the NL Playoffs, making American Family Field a horrifying place for incoming opponents.
Just behind the Brewers are the perennial heavyweight Los Angeles Dodgers (100-62), who comfortably secured the NL West and the No. 2 seed. Despite dealing with constant injuries to their starting rotation throughout the long summer, the Dodgers’ star-studded roster remains the most powerful offense in baseball.
This gives them a strong chance to become the first three-peat champion since the New York Yankees (1998-2000).
American League Byes: Tampa Bay Rays & Cleveland Guardians
Once again overachieving with baseball’s primary player-development machine, the Tampa Bay Rays (98-64) captured both the AL East title and the No. 1 overall seed in the American League for the third time since 2020. They did it by suffocating opponents on the mound and playing strong defense, ensuring that the road to the World Series in the AL runs through Tropicana Field.
Joining the Rays is the Cleveland Guardians (85-77), who outlasted the Chicago White Sox to clinch their third consecutive AL Central title. Even though critics point to their modest win total compared to the powerhouse Rays, Cleveland’s aggressive baserunning and flawless situational hitting are the ingredients of a tailor-made recipe for playoff success.
The Ultimate AL Clash: (5) Boston Red Sox at (4) New York Yankees
Gerrit Cole (photo, NJ.com)
The headliner of the Wild Card round is the battle between the Boston Red Sox (87-75) and the New York Yankees (93-68). This marks the second consecutive year both teams will face off in the Bronx for the opening round of the playoffs, as the Yankees knocked off the Red Sox in a breathtaking best-of-three series last season.
The Yankees enter the postseason boasting an extremely deep rotation headlined by Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, and Cy-Young frontrunner Cam Schlittler. However, a dark cloud hangs over New York, as superstar Aaron Judge has been dealing with a right calf strain.
If Judge is compromised for the Wild Card round, the burden falls heavily on the Yankees’ pitching staff. On the other side, the Red Sox have an elite top of the rotation with Sonny Gray, Ranger Suárez, and Payton Tolle. If Boston’s offense can provide enough run support, we could witness another instant classic in this storied rivalry.
The South Side Miracle!
Pope has the Sox!
The most inspiring story of the 2026 Major League Baseball season belongs to the Chicago White Sox (84-78). Just two years removed from an abysmal, historic 121-loss season, the South Siders pulled off a stunning organizational turnaround to clinch their first playoff berth in five years.
Fueled by youthful energy and foundational pieces like first baseman Munetaka Murakami, the White Sox are the true wildcard in this bracket.
They will be a tough matchup for the AL West champion Houston Astros (81-81), who made history as the first team in a 162-game season to qualify for the postseason without a winning record.
The Supreme X-Factors
The love their Padres! (photo, Petco Park)
If we have learned anything from recent baseball postseasons, it’s that the regular-season win-loss column is a flawed predictor of October prosperity. Instead, the teams that make deep runs tend to possess two clear traits: a dominant bullpen and an elite starting rotation.
One team to watch in the playoffs is the San Diego Padres (91-71). San Diego brings a high-leverage bullpen that can shorten games to six innings, and Petco Park provides an elite environment. For the second straight year, the Padres will face the Chicago Cubs (89-73) in the Wild Card round, led by MVP frontrunner Pete Crow-Armstrong. The Cubs eliminated the Padres from the playoffs last year, but this time San Diego will hold home-field advantage and is poised to make some noise in October.
Health will be the deciding factor for several teams. Beyond Aaron Judge’s calf injury, the closing units for several clubs, such as Boston’s Aroldis Chapman, have dealt with late-season wear and tear. The team that keeps its potent arms fresh over the next several weeks will hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy.
The Path to the Fall Classic
Wild-Card winners advance to the best-of-five Division Series beginning on Saturday, October 3, where the teams with first-round byes await. The League Championship Series will then set up the 2026 World Series, which is scheduled to open on Friday, October 23.
Big questions loom!
Will the Milwaukee Brewers finally break through in the playoffs and win their first title in franchise history? Can the Tampa Bay Rays secure the championship that their modern front office has so desperately coveted? May even a battle-tested Wild Card team catch fire in October and shock everyone?
Get your popcorn ready because one of the best months on the sports calendar has arrived!
