The Major League Baseball postseason has officially arrived, bringing with it the high-stakes drama, tension, and excitement that only October baseball can deliver. Starting on Tuesday, September 29, exactly 12 teams remain alive in the grueling chase for the World Series trophy. But as the autumn air cools and the pressure mounts, the field of championship hopefuls will rapidly shrink. By the middle of October, only two dominant clubs will be left standing to fight for the ultimate title in the Fall Classic.
At the center of this year’s narrative is the Los Angeles Dodgers, a powerhouse franchise pursuing an exceptionally rare and elusive feat: a World Series three-peat. Achieving three consecutive championships is one of the most difficult accomplishments in the history of North American professional sports. Across more than a century of Major League Baseball, only four teams—representing just two storied organizations—have ever managed to pull off a three-peat.
The legendary New York Yankees achieved this dynasty-defining status three separate times in their illustrious history, dominating the baseball world from 1936 through 1939, again from 1949 through 1953, and a third time during their late-1990s run from 1998 through 2000. The only other franchise to accomplish the feat is the Athletics, who put together their own dominant three-year run from 1972 through 1974. If the Los Angeles Dodgers manage to navigate the treacherous 2026 postseason successfully and claim another championship, they will engrave their name into this ultra-exclusive club while becoming the first and only National League team in history to pull off a three-peat.
To help fans keep track of the journey to the Fall Classic, here is a comprehensive breakdown of the 2026 MLB Playoff Bracket, along with the complete schedules and broadcast details for every game leading up to the American League Championship Series (ALCS) and the National League Championship Series (NLCS).
MLB Playoff Bracket
The 2026 playoff picture is fully set, featuring a balanced mix of powerhouse division winners who earned crucial first-round byes and hungry wild-card contenders ready to pull off upsets. In the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays put together a phenomenal regular season to secure the top overall seed in the junior circuit, earning a well-deserved bye into the Division Series. Joining them with a first-round bye are the Cleveland Guardians, who claimed the No. 2 seed in the American League.
When the ALDS gets underway, the top-seeded Tampa Bay Rays will face the winner of the high-stakes Wild Card Series matchup between the rival New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. On the other side of the American League bracket, the Cleveland Guardians will await the victor of the fierce series between the Houston Astros and the Chicago White Sox.
Meanwhile, the National League playoff landscape is equally compelling. The Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers secured the top two seeds in the senior circuit, earning vital byes while the wild-card round plays out. The Milwaukee Brewers will sit back and watch as the Chicago Cubs and the San Diego Padres battle it out, with the winner advancing to face the Brewers in the NLDS. Similarly, the defending-champion Los Angeles Dodgers will take on the winner of the heavyweight wild-card clash between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves.
National League Schedule and Scores
The road through the National League promises plenty of fireworks. All game times are listed in Eastern Time, and scores will be updated continuously as games go final throughout the postseason schedule.
In the opening round of the wild-card matchups, the Atlanta Braves made an early statement against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1, taking a 5-3 victory to grab a 1-0 lead in the series. The action shifts forward with Game 2 scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, at 2:00 p.m. broadcast live on NBC. If a decisive Game 3 is necessary to settle the series, the Phillies and Braves will face off on Thursday, October 1, also at 2:00 p.m. on NBC.
In the other National League wild-card matchup, the San Diego Padres dominated the opening contest against the Chicago Cubs, cruising to an 8-0 shutout victory to take a 1-0 series advantage. Game 2 of this series moves to the late-night slot on Wednesday, September 30, at 10:00 p.m. on Peacock. If the Cubs can bounce back and force a third game, Game 3 will take place on Thursday, October 1, at 10:00 p.m., also streaming on Peacock.
Once the wild-card dust settles, the Division Series (NLDS) matchups will kick off on Saturday, October 3. The lower-seeded survivor of the Cubs-Padres wild-card series will travel to take on the top-seeded Milwaukee Brewers, while the survivor of the Phillies-Braves series will head to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers. Game 1 and Game 2 of both NLDS series are scheduled for Saturday, October 3, and Sunday, October 4, with game times to be determined and broadcast coverage handled by FOX or FS1. The series will then shift venues for Game 3 on Tuesday, October 6, and if necessary, Game 4 on Wednesday, October 7. If either series goes the distance, a decisive Game 5 will be played on Friday, October 9, at the home stadium of the higher seed.
The winners of the NLDS will advance to the National League Championship Series (NLCS), where a spot in the World Series hangs in the balance. Game 1 of the NLCS is set for Sunday, October 11, hosted by the higher seed, with Game 2 following on Monday, October 12. After a travel day, the series moves to the lower seed’s ballpark for Game 3 on Wednesday, October 14, and Game 4 on Thursday, October 15. If the series requires extended play, Game 5 will take place on Friday, October 16, followed by Game 6 on Sunday, October 18, and a potential Game 7 on Monday, October 19, with all games broadcast on FOX or FS1.
American League Schedule and Scores
Over in the American League, the path to the pennant is equally fierce. All game times are listed in Eastern Time.
The American League Wild Card Series began with an exciting matchup between the Chicago White Sox and the Houston Astros. The White Sox struck first, taking Game 1 by a score of 6-3 to establish a 1-0 lead in the series. Game 2 is slated for Wednesday, September 30, at 5:00 p.m. on Peacock, with Game 3—if necessary—scheduled for Thursday, October 1, at the same time and network.
In the iconic rivalry matchup between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, the Bronx Bombers made a resounding statement in Game 1. The Yankees blanked the Red Sox 9-0 to take a commanding 1-0 lead in the series. Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, at 8:00 p.m. on NBC, with a potential Game 3 set for Thursday, October 1, at 8:00 p.m., also on NBC.
Following the wild-card round, the American League Division Series (ALDS) will begin on Saturday, October 3, with all games broadcast on TBS. The winner of the Red Sox-Yankees wild-card series will travel to face the top-seeded Tampa Bay Rays, while the winner of the White Sox-Astros series will head to Cleveland to take on the Guardians. Game 1 of the ALDS takes place on Saturday, October 3, with Game 2 following on Monday, October 5. The series shifts locations for Game 3 on Wednesday, October 7, and if needed, Game 4 on Thursday, October 8. A winner-take-all Game 5 would take place on Saturday, October 10.
The survivors of the ALDS will meet in the American League Championship Series (ALCS) starting on Monday, October 12, on TBS. Game 1 and Game 2 will be hosted by the higher seed on Monday, October 12, and Tuesday, October 13. The series shifts to the lower seed’s home park for Game 3 on Thursday, October 15, and Game 4 on Friday, October 16. If the series extends further, Game 5 will be played on Saturday, October 17, with Games 6 and 7 scheduled for Monday, October 19, and Tuesday, October 20, respectively.
World Series Schedule
The ultimate destination for all 12 postseason contenders is the World Series, where the American League champion will clash with the National League champion for the title of World Series champion.
The Fall Classic is scheduled to begin on Friday, October 23, with Game 1 hosted by the higher seed and broadcast nationally on FOX. Game 2 will follow on Saturday, October 24, also at the higher seed’s ballpark. After a travel day, the series shifts to the lower seed’s home stadium for Game 3 on Monday, October 26, Game 4 on Tuesday, October 27, and a potential Game 5 on Wednesday, October 28. If the championship battle requires extra games to determine a victor, the series will return to the higher seed’s home field for Game 6 on Friday, October 30, and a dramatic, winner-take-all Game 7 on Saturday, October 31, with all World Series games broadcast live on FOX.