More than seven months after spring training began, the 2026 MLB postseason is underway with 12 teams competing for the championship. The Los Angeles Dodgers, who have won the last two World Series titles, are aiming for a third straight crown despite some concerns over the health of Shohei Ohtani, considered the planet’s best player. The Dodgers’ regular season was not dominant, but they have remained one of the toughest teams to beat in October.
The postseason bracket features familiar contenders and a few teams still chasing their first World Series title. The Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays both finished with the best regular-season records in their leagues but have yet to win a championship. San Diego Padres fans are also hoping their team can break through for the first time.
The playoffs began with wild card series from September 29 to October 1, where the Braves, White Sox, Yankees, and Padres all secured victories to advance. The division series kicked off on October 3, with the White Sox taking a 3-0 win over the Guardians, the Dodgers edging the Braves 5-3, the Rays shutting out the Yankees 1-0, and the Brewers beating the Padres 3-2.
The schedule runs through October with games broadcast across Fox, FS1, TBS, NBC, NBCSN, and Peacock. NBC is carrying every wild card game this year, a new development for the opening round. After that, the National League postseason games air on Fox or FS1, the American League on TBS, and the World Series will return to Fox as it has since 2000. Fans can stream every game except Peacock exclusives through DIRECTV, which offers a free trial, or via Fubo, which carries all games airing on NBC, Fox, and FS1.
In the National League Division Series, the Brewers defeated the Padres again on October 4 by a narrow 4-3 margin, while the Braves evened their series against the Dodgers with a 3-2 win. The Dodgers responded on October 6 by beating the Braves 3-1, but the Padres took a 4-3 victory over the Brewers. In the American League Division Series, the White Sox narrowly beat the Guardians 4-3 on October 5 and the Rays took a 5-2 win against the Yankees the same day. The Guardians bounced back with a 9-3 win over the White Sox in Game 3 on October 7.
Upcoming games include Game 4 of the NLDS between the Braves and Dodgers on October 7, airing on FS1, and the Yankees-Rays series Game 3 on TBS the same evening. The Padres-Brewers Game 4 will follow later on FS1. If necessary, Game 5s in both leagues are scheduled for October 9 and 10. The League Championship Series begins on October 11 for the National League and October 12 for the American League, with the World Series set to start on October 23.
The Dodgers’ pursuit to become the first team in recent memory to win three consecutive World Series is the defining storyline this postseason. Their ability to navigate injuries and stay competitive will be tested in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the Brewers and Rays aim to convert their top regular-season finishes into playoff success, while the Padres seek to shed their title drought.
The 2026 MLB postseason is unfolding with tight games, unexpected results, and a wide-open field beyond the Dodgers’ dynasty. The latest confirmed schedule has the World Series games planned through October 31 if the full seven games are needed. Fans worldwide are tuning in across multiple platforms to see who will lift the Commissioner's Trophy this October.
According to Yahoo Sports.
