Twelve Major League Baseball teams are officially set to begin the 2026 postseason. They open a high-stakes, best-of-three Wild Card Series in pursuit of the World Series trophy. Action gets underway on Tuesday afternoon. The Los Angeles Dodgers enter October aiming for a historic National League three-peat. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Brewers come off a franchise-record 103-win regular season.
- 2026 MLB Wild Card Series Matchups and Schedule
- American League Wild Card Series
- National League Wild Card Series
- Broadcast and Television Coverage
- What Lies Ahead in the Postseason Bracket
- Frequently Asked Questions
- When does the 2026 MLB Wild Card Series start?
- How does the Wild Card round format work?
- What TV channels are broadcasting the Wild Card games?
- Which teams received first-round byes?
- When does the World Series begin?
Several dramatic playoff berths were decided on the very final day of the regular season, according to ESPN. The Houston Astros secured an American League West division title despite an 81-81 record. This marks a unique statistical milestone as the first full-season division winner to take the crown without a winning record. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox also punched their tickets on Game 162. Chicago makes a triumphant return to October baseball following three consecutive 100-loss seasons.
2026 MLB Wild Card Series Matchups and Schedule
The 12-team postseason field features six clubs from each league. The top two seeds in both the American and National Leagues earned crucial first-round byes straight to the Division Series. These teams are the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians in the AL, alongside the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL. That leaves eight teams battling in the best-of-three Wild Card round. All games are hosted entirely at the higher seed’s ballpark to eliminate travel days.
American League Wild Card Series
- Chicago White Sox at Houston Astros (No. 3 vs. No. 6): Game 1 starts Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET. Expert projections from ESPN favor the White Sox due to their left-handed hitters and bullpen depth. However, Houston counters with powerful slugger Yordan Alvarez, closer Josh Hader, and a lineup that led the majors in home runs.
- Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees (No. 4 vs. No. 5): Game 1 starts Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET. Despite New York slugger Aaron Judge dealing with recent injuries, 18 of 24 ESPN analysts picked the Yankees to defeat their historic rival.
National League Wild Card Series
- Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves (No. 3 vs. No. 6): Game 1 starts Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET at Truist Park.
- Chicago Cubs at San Diego Padres (No. 4 vs. No. 5): Game 1 starts Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET at Petco Park.
Broadcast and Television Coverage
For the first time in a generation, postseason baseball returns to NBC. The entire 2026 Wild Card round will air across NBC, Peacock, and the NBC Sports Network (NBCSN). Game 1 matchups begin on Tuesday, September 29. Game 2 follows on Wednesday, September 30, and a decisive Game 3-if necessary-is scheduled for Thursday, October 1.
What Lies Ahead in the Postseason Bracket
Winners of the Wild Card Series will immediately advance to the Division Series, which kicks off on Saturday, October 3. In the AL, the Cleveland Guardians will await the winner of the White Sox-Astros series, while the Tampa Bay Rays face the victor of the Red Sox-Yankees series. In the NL, the Los Angeles Dodgers will host the winner of the Phillies-Braves series, and the Milwaukee Brewers play the winner of the Cubs-Padres series.
The League Championship Series are slated to begin in mid-October. This leads up to the Fall Classic as the World Series opens on Friday, October 23, broadcasting live on Fox.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the 2026 MLB Wild Card Series start?
Game 1 of all four Wild Card Series begins on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. Subsequent games run through October 1.
How does the Wild Card round format work?
It is a best-of-three series where the higher seed hosts all games at their home ballpark. The No. 3 seed hosts the No. 6 seed, and the No. 4 seed hosts the No. 5 seed in each respective league.
What TV channels are broadcasting the Wild Card games?
The 2026 Wild Card round is broadcast nationally on NBC, streamed live on Peacock, and televised on the NBC Sports Network (NBCSN).
Which teams received first-round byes?
In the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays (No. 1) and Cleveland Guardians (No. 2) earned byes. In the National League, the Milwaukee Brewers (No. 1) and Los Angeles Dodgers (No. 2) skipped the opening round.
When does the World Series begin?
Game 1 of the 2026 World Series is scheduled to begin on Friday, October 23, on Fox.
