The Milwaukee Brewers are the 2026 World Series champions, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 4–1 in the best-of-seven series. Milwaukee clinched its first World Series title with a 4–1 victory in Game 5 on Wednesday, October 28, at Tropicana Field. Jacob Misiorowski delivered 5⅔ scoreless innings, and catcher William Contreras was named World Series MVP after batting .381 with four RBIs in the five games. The Brewers won Games 1, 2 and 3, Tampa Bay took Game 4 in 12 innings, and Milwaukee finished the championship in Game 5. Games 6 and 7 will not be played. Tampa Bay won the ALCS 4–2 over Cleveland, while Milwaukee swept the NLCS 4–0 over Los Angeles.
Last updated: October 29, 2026 (Central Time)
Final result — Wednesday, October 28: Milwaukee Brewers 4, Tampa Bay Rays 1 in World Series Game 5. Milwaukee wins the 2026 World Series, 4–1. William Contreras was named World Series MVP. The series is complete, and no additional postseason games are scheduled.
The 2026 MLB postseason is complete. This guide preserves the final bracket, championship result, game scores, schedule and television information.
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. 23–28 (completed in five games) | Best of seven |
These dates come from the official 2026 MLB postseason schedule. The World Series ended on October 28; Games 6 and 7, originally scheduled for October 30 and 31 if necessary, were not played.
Which Teams Made the 2026 MLB Postseason?
The 2026 postseason field is set. Tampa Bay and Milwaukee earned the No. 1 seeds, while Cleveland and the Los Angeles Dodgers earned the other first-round byes.
American League seeds
- Tampa Bay Rays — AL East champion and first-round bye
- Cleveland Guardians — AL Central champion and first-round bye
- Houston Astros — AL West champion
- New York Yankees — Wild Card
- Boston Red Sox — Wild Card
- Chicago White Sox — Wild Card
National League seeds
- Milwaukee Brewers — NL Central champion and first-round bye
- Los Angeles Dodgers — NL West champion and first-round bye
- Atlanta Braves — NL East champion
- San Diego Padres — Wild Card
- Chicago Cubs — Wild Card
- Philadelphia Phillies — Wild Card
Final 2026 MLB Wild Card Results
The Wild Card round is complete. Chicago, New York and San Diego swept their series, while Atlanta defeated Philadelphia in three games.
| Series | Game results | Series winner |
|---|---|---|
| White Sox at Astros | CWS 6–3; CWS 7–3 | White Sox, 2–0 |
| Red Sox at Yankees | NYY 9–0; NYY 9–2 | Yankees, 2–0 |
| Phillies at Braves | ATL 5–3; PHI 4–3; ATL 6–2 | Braves, 2–1 |
| Cubs at Padres | SD 8–0; SD 4–1 | Padres, 2–0 |
2026 MLB Playoff Bracket: Final Results
World Series: Brewers defeat Rays, 4–1 — 2026 champions
American League champion: Tampa Bay Rays (98–64 regular season). National League and World Series champion: Milwaukee Brewers (103–59 regular season). Milwaukee had home-field advantage and won Game 1 by 3–2 on October 23, Game 2 by 5–4 on October 24, and Game 3 by 10–1 on October 26. Tampa Bay won Game 4 by 4–3 in 12 innings on October 27. The Brewers clinched their first World Series championship with a 4–1 Game 5 victory in Tampa Bay on October 28. World Series MVP: William Contreras.
American League Championship Series: Rays defeat Guardians, 4–2
- Oct. 12: Guardians 7, Rays 3
- Oct. 13: Rays 3, Guardians 1
- Oct. 15: Guardians 3, Rays 2
- Oct. 16: Game 4 postponed by rain
- Oct. 17: Rays 7, Guardians 3
- Oct. 18: Rays 3, Guardians 1
- Oct. 19: Rays 7, Guardians 3 — Tampa Bay clinches the AL pennant
National League Championship Series: Brewers defeat Dodgers, 4–0
- Oct. 11: Brewers 2, Dodgers 1
- Oct. 12: Brewers 7, Dodgers 4
- Oct. 14: Brewers 6, Dodgers 2
- Oct. 15: Brewers 6, Dodgers 4 — Milwaukee clinches the NL pennant
Completed Division Series
| Matchup | Result | Advancing |
|---|---|---|
| Guardians vs. White Sox | Cleveland wins 3–2 | Guardians |
| Rays vs. Yankees | Tampa Bay wins 3–0 | Rays |
| Dodgers vs. Braves | Los Angeles wins 3–1 | Dodgers |
| Brewers vs. Padres | Milwaukee wins 3–1 | Brewers |
2026 World Series final — Wednesday, October 28
World Series Game 5 final: Brewers 4, Rays 1. Milwaukee wins the World Series 4–1 for its first franchise championship. Games 6 and 7 are not necessary.
Complete 2026 MLB Postseason Schedule
Wild Card Series: September 29–October 1
- White Sox defeated Astros, 2–0: 6–3 and 7–3.
- Yankees defeated Red Sox, 2–0: 9–0 and 9–2.
- Braves defeated Phillies, 2–1: 5–3, 3–4 and 6–2.
- Padres defeated Cubs, 2–0: 8–0 and 4–1.
Division Series: October 3–10
The Division Series are complete. Cleveland defeated Chicago 3–2, Tampa Bay swept New York 3–0, Los Angeles defeated Atlanta 3–1, and Milwaukee defeated San Diego 3–1.
League Championship Series: Final Results
NLCS: Milwaukee swept Los Angeles 4–0 (Oct. 11, 12, 14 and 15). ALCS: Tampa Bay defeated Cleveland 4–2 (Oct. 12–19; Game 4 was postponed from Oct. 16 to Oct. 17).
World Series: October 23–28 (Final)
Final result: Milwaukee defeated Tampa Bay 4–1 to win the 2026 World Series. Game 1 (October 23): Milwaukee 3, Tampa Bay 2. Game 2 (October 24): Milwaukee 5, Tampa Bay 4. Game 3 (October 26): Milwaukee 10, Tampa Bay 1. Game 4 (October 27): Tampa Bay 4, Milwaukee 3 (12 innings). Game 5 (October 28): Milwaukee 4, Tampa Bay 1. There was no game on Sunday, October 25. The five games played began at 7:00 p.m. Central and aired on FOX, FOX One and FOX Deportes; Univision also televised Game 1 in Spanish. ESPN Radio provided national English-language coverage, with Spanish-language radio broadcasts on TUDN Radio. Games 6 and 7 were not necessary because Milwaukee clinched the title in Game 5.
| Game | Date | Matchup | Time (CT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fri., Oct. 23 | Brewers 3, Rays 2 (MIL leads 1–0) | 7:00 p.m. |
| 2 | Sat., Oct. 24 | Brewers 5, Rays 4 (MIL leads 2–0) | 7:00 p.m. |
| 3 | Mon., Oct. 26 | Brewers 10, Rays 1 (MIL leads 3–0) | 7:00 p.m. |
| 4 | Tue., Oct. 27 | Rays 4, Brewers 3 (12 innings; MIL leads 3–1) | 7:00 p.m. |
| 5 | Wed., Oct. 28 | Brewers 4, Rays 1 (MIL wins series 4–1) | 7:00 p.m. |
| 6* | Fri., Oct. 30 | Not played — series concluded | — |
| 7* | Sat., Oct. 31 | Not played — series concluded | — |
* Games 6–7 were originally scheduled if necessary; neither was played after Milwaukee won the series in Game 5.
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 One and FOX Deportes for all games; Univision also broadcasts Game 1 in Spanish
- Radio: ESPN Radio (national English-language coverage); Univision’s TUDN Radio (Spanish-language coverage of every World Series game)
All five games of the 2026 World Series began at 7:00 p.m. Central and were televised on FOX, FOX One and FOX Deportes. Univision also televised Game 1 in Spanish. FOX telecasts were available through MLB.TV to authenticated subscribers of participating television providers. ESPN Radio carried national English-language coverage, and TUDN Radio provided Spanish-language broadcasts.
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?
The 2026 World Series was played October 23–28. Milwaukee defeated Tampa Bay 4–1 in the series, clinching its first championship with a 4–1 Game 5 victory on Wednesday, October 28. Games 6 and 7 were not necessary.
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 had home-field advantage in the World Series?
Milwaukee had home-field advantage after finishing 103–59, compared with Tampa Bay's 98–64. The Brewers hosted Games 1 and 2. Games 6 and 7, which would have been in Milwaukee, were not needed.
Are there any 2026 MLB postseason games remaining?
No. The 2026 MLB postseason ended on Wednesday, October 28, when Milwaukee defeated Tampa Bay 4–1 in World Series Game 5 to win the series 4–1. Games 6 and 7 were canceled because they were not necessary.
Who won the 2026 World Series MVP award?
Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras won the 2026 World Series MVP award after hitting .381 with four RBIs in five games.
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
- October 29, 2026: Verified Milwaukee’s 4–1 win over Tampa Bay in Game 5 on October 28 and the Brewers’ first World Series championship (series result 4–1) against MLB’s official postseason bracket and championship recap. Added the Game 5 final score, confirmed William Contreras as World Series MVP, marked Games 6–7 as not played, and finalized the championship summary, bracket, schedule, FAQs and last-updated date. Sources: MLB’s 2026 World Series championship coverage, postseason bracket and World Series MVP announcement.
- October 28, 2026: Verified Tampa Bay’s 4–3 walk-off win over Milwaukee in 12 innings in World Series Game 4 (October 27), updated Milwaukee’s lead to 3–1, confirmed that Game 5 will be played Wednesday, October 28, at 7:00 p.m. Central in Tampa Bay on FOX, FOX One and FOX Deportes, and updated the live score summary, series standings, Game 4 score table, game callouts and FAQs. Sources: MLB’s official Game 4 recap and World Series Game 5 preview.
- October 27, 2026: Added Milwaukee’s 10–1 Game 3 victory over Tampa Bay on October 26, updated the Brewers’ World Series lead to 3–0, and refreshed the Game 4 schedule and broadcast details for October 27 at 7:00 p.m. Central. Verified against MLB’s official World Series reporting.
- October 26, 2026: Reverified the World Series results (Milwaukee leads Tampa Bay 2–0), Monday’s Game 3 location and 7:00 p.m. Central first pitch, and FOX/FOX One/FOX Deportes broadcast details against official MLB sources. Updated the today-game callouts, FAQ and visible update date; no additional game result was recorded before first pitch.
- October 25, 2026: Verified Milwaukee’s 5–4 win over Tampa Bay in World Series Game 2 on October 24 and its 2–0 best-of-seven series lead; recorded the Game 2 final in the schedule, updated the bracket, top summary, FAQs, and upcoming-game callouts, and confirmed the October 25 off day and Game 3 on October 26 at 7:00 p.m. Central in Tampa Bay with FOX, FOX One and FOX Deportes coverage. Sources: official MLB postseason schedule and MLB Game 2 recap.
- October 24, 2026: Added Milwaukee’s 3–2 victory over Tampa Bay in World Series Game 1 (October 23), updated the World Series standing to Brewers 1–0, marked Game 1 final in the schedule, and confirmed October 24 Game 2 at 7:00 p.m. Central in Milwaukee on FOX, FOX One and FOX Deportes using MLB’s official schedule. Updated the opening summary, next-game callouts, FAQ and visible update date.
- October 23, 2026: Reconfirmed the Rays–Brewers World Series Game 1 matchup and 7:00 p.m. Central start against MLB's official schedule; updated tonight’s game callout, Game 1 Spanish-language television coverage on Univision, World Series radio coverage on ESPN Radio and TUDN Radio, television authentication guidance, and today’s FAQ. No World Series results are recorded before Game 1.
- October 20, 2026: Confirmed Tampa Bay's 7–3 ALCS Game 6 win and 4–2 series victory over Cleveland, Milwaukee's 4–0 NLCS sweep of Los Angeles, the Rays–Brewers World Series matchup, and MLB's complete World Series schedule, venues and broadcast assignments.
- October 14, 2026: Reconciled all completed Division Series results, updated the four advancing teams and Championship Series standings through October 13, and posted MLB-confirmed October 14–20 schedules and October 15 time changes.
- October 7, 2026: Added the October 6 NLDS Game 3 finals: Dodgers 3, Braves 1 and Padres 4, Brewers 3; updated Los Angeles to a 2–1 series lead, Milwaukee to a 2–1 series lead, and posted the confirmed October 7 four-game schedule in Central Time.
- October 6, 2026: Added the October 5 ALDS Game 2 finals: White Sox 4, Guardians 3 and Rays 5, Yankees 2; updated both ALDS series to 2–0 and moved today’s schedule to the two NLDS Game 3 matchups.
- October 5, 2026: Added Atlanta’s Wild Card Game 3 win, all Division Series results through October 4, current series standings, and the confirmed October 5–9 schedule in Central Time.
- October 1, 2026: Added every Wild Card score through September 30, marked the White Sox, Yankees and Padres as Division Series qualifiers, added tonight’s Phillies-Braves elimination game, and posted the confirmed Division Series Game 1 and Game 2 times.
- September 28, 2026: Replaced the provisional playoff picture with the official 12-team field, final seeds, Wild Card matchups, Central-time game schedule and NBC/Peacock assignments.
- September 19, 2026: Added Atlanta’s clinched berth and updated the provisional AL Central, AL West, Wild Card races, seeds and bracket through September 18.
- September 18, 2026: Updated division-clinch status and the AL Central race; verified the provisional bracket through September 17.
- September 16, 2026: Initial guide created with the confirmed postseason calendar, current clinched teams and provisional bracket based on standings through September 15.
