The 2026 MLB postseason begins Tuesday, September 29, with four best-of-three Wild Card Series. The Division Series begin October 3, the National League Championship Series begins October 11, the American League Championship Series begins October 12, and World Series Game 1 is scheduled for October 23.
Last updated: September 16, 2026
The brackets below are based on standings through games played September 15. Matchups and seeds remain provisional unless marked “clinched.” Exact postseason game times have not yet been announced by MLB.
This page will be updated throughout the final regular-season races and after every postseason game. Bookmark it for the latest bracket, series scores, schedule, television information and advancement results.
2026 MLB Postseason Dates at a Glance
| Round | Dates | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Wild Card Series | Sept. 29–Oct. 1 | Best of three |
| Division Series | Oct. 3–10 | Best of five |
| NLCS | Oct. 11–19 | Best of seven |
| ALCS | Oct. 12–20 | Best of seven |
| World Series | Oct. 23–31 | Best of seven |
These dates come from the official 2026 MLB postseason schedule. Dates remain subject to change.
Which Teams Have Clinched the 2026 MLB Postseason?
As of this update, four teams have secured postseason berths:
- Tampa Bay Rays: Clinched an American League postseason berth September 11; seed remains undecided.
- Milwaukee Brewers: Clinched a National League berth September 11 and the NL Central title September 15.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Clinched a National League postseason berth September 14; seed remains undecided.
- New York Yankees: Clinched an American League postseason berth September 14; seed remains undecided.
Clinching a postseason berth does not necessarily finalize a division title, first-round bye or seed. We will move teams into permanent bracket positions as those details become official.
Current 2026 MLB Wild Card Bracket
The following matchups show what the Wild Card round would look like if the season ended based on the current standings. A division winner retains seeds 1–3 even when a Wild Card club has a better overall record.
American League Wild Card bracket
| Series | Provisional matchup | Series site | Winner advances to |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALWC: 3 vs. 6 | No. 6 Cleveland Guardians at No. 3 Houston Astros | Houston | No. 2 Chicago White Sox |
| ALWC: 4 vs. 5 | No. 5 Boston Red Sox at No. 4 New York Yankees | New York | No. 1 Tampa Bay Rays |
Current AL first-round byes: Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago White Sox.
National League Wild Card bracket
| Series | Provisional matchup | Series site | Winner advances to |
|---|---|---|---|
| NLWC: 3 vs. 6 | No. 6 San Diego Padres at No. 3 Atlanta Braves | Atlanta | No. 2 Los Angeles Dodgers |
| NLWC: 4 vs. 5 | No. 5 Philadelphia Phillies at No. 4 Chicago Cubs | Chicago | No. 1 Milwaukee Brewers |
Current NL first-round byes: Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers.
The closest races that could change the bracket
- AL Central: Chicago leads Cleveland, but the division and No. 2 or No. 3 seed remain unsettled.
- AL West: Houston and Texas remain separated by a narrow margin.
- Final AL Wild Card: Cleveland, Toronto, Texas and Baltimore remain part of the race.
- NL Wild Card: San Diego currently holds the last position, with Arizona still within reach.
- AL East and first-round bye: Tampa Bay leads New York, but the final seed remains open.
Because MLB no longer plays a Game 163, head-to-head and other mathematical tiebreakers could decide these positions.
Current Full 2026 MLB Postseason Bracket
American League path
| Wild Card Series | Division Series | ALCS |
|---|---|---|
| No. 5 Red Sox at No. 4 Yankees | Winner vs. No. 1 Rays | Division Series winners |
| No. 6 Guardians at No. 3 Astros | Winner vs. No. 2 White Sox |
National League path
| Wild Card Series | Division Series | NLCS |
|---|---|---|
| No. 5 Phillies at No. 4 Cubs | Winner vs. No. 1 Brewers | Division Series winners |
| No. 6 Padres at No. 3 Braves | Winner vs. No. 2 Dodgers |
World Series matchup
American League champion vs. National League champion — Game 1 on Friday, October 23.
MLB does not reseed the bracket after the Wild Card Series. The 4/5 winner advances to face the No. 1 seed, and the 3/6 winner advances to face the No. 2 seed.
Complete 2026 MLB Postseason Schedule
Wild Card Series: September 29–October 1
| Date | Games | Time | TV/streaming |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, Sept. 29 | Four Game 1 matchups | TBD | NBC, Peacock, NBCSN |
| Wednesday, Sept. 30 | Four Game 2 matchups | TBD | NBC, Peacock, NBCSN |
| Thursday, Oct. 1 | Game 3 matchups, if necessary | TBD | NBC, Peacock, NBCSN |
All games in a Wild Card Series are played at the home stadium of the higher seed. There is no travel day during the round.
Division Series: October 3–10
- Oct. 3: ALDS and NLDS Game 1
- Oct. 4: NLDS Game 2
- Oct. 5: ALDS Game 2
- Oct. 6: NLDS Game 3
- Oct. 7: ALDS Game 3; NLDS Game 4 if necessary
- Oct. 8: ALDS Game 4 if necessary
- Oct. 9: NLDS Game 5 if necessary
- Oct. 10: ALDS Game 5 if necessary
League Championship Series: October 11–20
- NLCS: Game 1 on Oct. 11; potential Game 7 on Oct. 19
- ALCS: Game 1 on Oct. 12; potential Game 7 on Oct. 20
World Series: October 23–31
| Game | Date | Site |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Friday, Oct. 23 | Team with better regular-season record |
| Game 2 | Saturday, Oct. 24 | Same host |
| Game 3 | Monday, Oct. 26 | Other league champion |
| Game 4 | Tuesday, Oct. 27 | Same host |
| Game 5* | Wednesday, Oct. 28 | Same host |
| Game 6* | Friday, Oct. 30 | Team with better regular-season record |
| Game 7* | Saturday, Oct. 31 | Same host |
* If necessary.
How Does the 2026 MLB Playoff Format Work?
Twelve teams qualify: six from the American League and six from the National League. Each league sends three division champions and three Wild Card teams.
- The division winner with the best league record receives the No. 1 seed.
- The division winner with the second-best record receives the No. 2 seed.
- The remaining division winner receives the No. 3 seed.
- The three Wild Card teams receive seeds 4–6 based on record and applicable tiebreakers.
- Seeds 1 and 2 receive first-round byes.
- Seed 6 visits seed 3, while seed 5 visits seed 4.
A Wild Card team can have a better record than a division winner and still receive a lower seed because seeds 1–3 are reserved for division champions.
Series formats
- Wild Card Series: Best of three; all games at the higher seed.
- Division Series: Best of five using a 2-2-1 home format.
- League Championship Series: Best of seven using a 2-3-2 format.
- World Series: Best of seven using a 2-3-2 format.
The complete rules are available in MLB’s postseason format guide.
How Are MLB Postseason Ties Decided?
MLB no longer schedules a one-game tiebreaker after the regular season. When teams finish with identical records, mathematical tiebreakers determine division titles, postseason qualification and seeding.
For a two-team tie, the order begins with:
- Head-to-head record
- Intradivision record
- Intraleague record
- Record in the last half of intraleague games
- Last-half intraleague record plus one additional preceding game at a time
Three-team and larger ties can require additional comparisons. See the official MLB tiebreaker explanation for the complete process.
How to Watch the 2026 MLB Postseason
- Wild Card Series: NBC, Peacock and NBC Sports Network
- ALDS and ALCS: TBS, truTV and HBO Max
- NLDS and NLCS: FOX or FS1, FOX Deportes and FOX One
- World Series: FOX, FOX Deportes and FOX One
- Radio: ESPN Radio; Spanish-language coverage through Univision Radio
Exact game assignments and start times will be added when MLB and its broadcast partners confirm them.
Baseball, Faith and October Pressure
The postseason magnifies every result, but an athlete’s identity is still deeper than one at-bat, pitching appearance or series. Young players watching October baseball can learn from the preparation, resilience and teamwork on display without treating professional success as the measure of personal worth.
Players preparing for their own seasons can explore our Bible verses for baseball players for scripturally grounded encouragement about courage, discipline, teamwork and identity.
Families looking for meaningful baseball keepsakes can also review our guides to the best gifts for baseball players and baseball number necklaces.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the 2026 MLB playoffs start?
The 2026 MLB postseason begins Tuesday, September 29, with Game 1 of all four Wild Card Series.
When is the 2026 World Series?
World Series Game 1 is scheduled for Friday, October 23. If a Game 7 is necessary, it will be played Saturday, October 31.
How many teams make the MLB playoffs?
Twelve teams qualify: six from the American League and six from the National League.
How many Wild Card teams make the playoffs?
Three Wild Card teams from each league qualify, for six Wild Card teams overall.
Is the MLB Wild Card still one game?
No. Each Wild Card matchup is now a best-of-three series. The higher seed hosts every game.
Are MLB teams reseeded after the Wild Card Series?
No. The bracket remains fixed. The winner of the 4/5 matchup faces the No. 1 seed, while the winner of the 3/6 matchup faces the No. 2 seed.
Who has home-field advantage in the World Series?
The league champion with the better 2026 regular-season record hosts Games 1, 2, 6 and 7. MLB tiebreaker procedures apply if the teams finish with identical records.
What time are the 2026 MLB postseason games?
Exact start times have not yet been announced. This guide will be updated once MLB confirms each game time.
Where can I see the official MLB postseason bracket?
MLB maintains its official schedule and bracket at MLB.com/postseason. This All In Faith guide organizes the bracket, scores and schedule in one regularly updated page.
Explore Baseball Jewelry From All In Faith
All In Faith’s Christian baseball jewelry collection includes baseball bat crosses, catcher’s-mask necklaces, jersey-number pendants, bracelets and gifts connecting faith with the game.
Editorial note: Team names, schedules, standings and scores are used for informational reporting. All In Faith is not affiliated with or endorsed by Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Update Log
- September 16, 2026: Initial guide created with the confirmed postseason calendar, current clinched teams and provisional bracket based on standings through September 15.
