How To Watch The 2026 MLB Playoffs
After a 162-game regular season, 12 teams remain in the hunt for the 2026 World Series. The MLB Playoffs begin Tuesday, September 29, with the Wild Card Series, kicking off a postseason that will eventually crown the National League and American League champions before they meet for baseball's biggest prize.
Whether you follow baseball all season or only tune in once the stakes get higher, here's what you need to know about the 2026 MLB Playoffs: when they start, which teams qualified, where to watch every round, and which contenders enter October as World Series favorites. The Los Angeles Dodgers are trying to achieve something only two other franchises have accomplished in MLB history: winning the World Series three consecutive years. But several talented teams are trying to make sure that three-peat doesn't happen.
Which MLB teams are in the 2026 MLB Playoffs?
In baseball, a "seed" is a team's playoff ranking. The two division winners in each league with the best regular-season records among division winners earn the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds and don't play in the Wild Card Series. The division winner with the poorest record among the three division winners earns the No. 3 seed and plays the No. 6 seed, the Wild Card team with the third-best record, in a best-of-three series for a spot in the Division Series. The No. 4 and No. 5 seeds, the teams with the best records among non-division winners, face each other in the other Wild Card Series.
American League Playoff Teams
1-Seed (best record among division winners): Tampa Bay Rays
2-Seed (second best record among division winners): Cleveland Guardians
3-Seed (division winner with third best record among division winners): Houston Astros
4-Seed (best record of all Wild Card teams): New York Yankees
5-Seed (second-best Wild Card team record): Boston Red Sox
6-Seed (third best record of all Wild Card teams): Chicago White Sox
National League Playoff Teams
1-Seed (best record among division winners): Milwaukee Brewers
2-Seed (second best record among division winners): Los Angeles Dodgers
3-Seed (division winner with third best record among division winners): Atlanta Braves
4-Seed (best record of all Wild Card teams): San Diego Padres
5-Seed (second-best Wild Card team record): Chicago Cubs
6-Seed (third best record of all Wild Card teams): Philadelphia Phillies
What is the 2026 MLB Playoffs schedule?
The 2026 MLB Playoffs begin with the Wild Card Series on Tuesday, September 29, when all eight teams will play Game 1. If necessary, Game 3s will be played on Thursday, October 1. The start times listed below apply if all four series require a Game 3; MLB will adjust Thursday's schedule if fewer games are needed.
AL Wild Card Series #1: The Houston Astros host the White Sox at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas, with Game 1 starting Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Game 2: Wednesday, September 30 at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Game 3 (if necessary): Thursday, October 1 at 5:00 p.m. ET
AL Wild Card Series #2: The New York Yankees host the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, with Game 1 starting Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Game 2: Wednesday, September 30 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Game 3 (if necessary): Thursday, October 1 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
NL Wild Card Series #1: The Atlanta Braves host the Philadelphia Phillies at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia starting Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Game 2: Wednesday, September 30 at 2:00 p.m. ET
Game 3 (if necessary): Thursday, October 1 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
NL Wild Card Series #2: The San Diego Padres host the Chicago Cubs at Petco Park in San Diego, California starting Tuesday at 10:00 p.m. ET.
Game 2: Wednesday, September 30 at 10:00 p.m. ET.
Game 3 (if necessary): Thursday, October 1 at 10:00 p.m. ET.
The 2026 Division Series round starts on Saturday, October 3. In each league, the 1-seed plays the Wild Card winner of the 4/5-seed series and the 2-seed plays the Wild Card winner of the 3/6 seed series in two best-of-five series.
So, in the AL Division Series 1, the Tampa Bay Rays will play the winner of the Yankees/Red Sox series, hosting Games 1 and 2 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, plus Game 5 if necessary.
In ALDS #2, the Cleveland Guardians will play the winner of the Astros/White Sox series, hosting Games 1 and 2 at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio, plus Game 5 if necessary.
In NLDS #1, the Milwaukee Brewers will play the winner of the Cubs/Padres series, hosting Games 1 and 2 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, plus Game 5 if necessary.
In NLDS #2, the Los Angeles Dodgers will play the winner of the Braves/Phillies series, hosting Games 1 and 2 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, plus Game 5 if necessary.
The National League Championship Series (NLCS) begins Sunday, October 11, and the American League Championship Series (ALCS) begins Monday, October 12. In each league, the two Division Series winners meet in a best-of-seven series to determine the National League and American League champions, respectively.
The 2026 World Series begins Friday, October 23. The NLCS and ALCS winners meet in a best-of-seven series to determine the 2026 World Series champion.
Where can you watch the 2026 MLB Playoffs?
2026 Wild Card Series
Stream: Peacock
Network: NBC or NBCSN
2026 American League Division Series (ALDS)
Stream: HBO Max
Network: TBS or truTV
2026 National League Division Series (NLDS)
Stream: FOX One
Network: FOX or FS1
2026 American League Championship Series (ALCS)
Stream: HBO Max
Network: TBS or truTV
2026 National League Championship Series (NLCS)
Stream: FOX One
Network: FOX or FS1
2026 World Series
Stream: FOX One
Network: FOX
Who are the favorite teams to be in the 2026 World Series?
The playoffs are fun to watch, but winning a baseball championship comes down to one best-of-seven series. The 2026 World Series will air on FOX beginning Friday, October 23, 2026, with Game 7 being played if necessary on Saturday, October 31. But who are the favorites to win and why?
As of September 28, the Los Angeles Dodgers enter the postseason as the betting favorite to win the 2026 World Series after winning the title in both 2024 and 2025. Their star-studded roster includes Shohei Ohtani, a four-time MVP who won his third consecutive award in 2025. Superstars backing up Ohtani include Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Kyle Tucker.
In the National League, the Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves are among the leading contenders behind the Dodgers. In the American League, the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays have some of the best odds of reaching the World Series. The Brewers have the best regular-season record in MLB at 103-59. The Braves won the NL East with a record of 94-68. The Yankees enter the postseason with a 93-68 record, three-time MVP Aaron Judge, who is aiming to return from a calf strain in time for the Wild Card Series, and AL Cy Young Award favorite Cam Schlittler. The Rays have the best AL regular-season record at 98-64, two wins behind the Dodgers' 100-62 mark.