Live · Wild Card Series
2026 MLB Postseason: bracket, schedule & results.
The 2026 playoffs are underway: Wild Card Series now. Every matchup, game time, score and series result below is MLB's official record, refreshed every couple of minutes.
Source: MLB Stats API · updated Wed, Sep 30, 12:50 PM EDT
01 / Now
Wild Card Series, right now.
Series standings count final games only. Tap a game for the live page, lineups and the box score.
AL Wild Card Series
Chicago White Sox lead 1–0
AL Wild Card Series
New York Yankees lead 1–0
NL Wild Card Series
Atlanta Braves lead 1–0
NL Wild Card Series
San Diego Padres lead 1–0
02 / Bracket
The 2026 bracket
Wild Card Series to World Series. Undecided slots show MLB's placeholder until a series ends.
Wild Card Series
- Houston Astros0Chicago White Sox1
- New York Yankees1Boston Red Sox0
- Atlanta Braves1Philadelphia Phillies0
- San Diego Padres1Chicago Cubs0
Division Series
- Tampa Bay Rays0NYY/BOS–
- Cleveland Guardians0HOU/CWS–
- Milwaukee Brewers0SD/CHC–
- Los Angeles Dodgers0ATL/PHI–
League Championship Series
- AL Higher Seed–AL Lower Seed–
- NL Higher Seed–NL Lower Seed–
World Series
- Higher Seed League Champion–Lower Seed League Champion–
Champion
- 2026 World SeriesTo be decided
03 / Schedule
Every series, every game.
Times are Eastern. Games marked “if necessary” are played only when a series is still undecided.
Wild Card Series
AL · Houston Astros vs Chicago White SoxChicago White Sox lead 1–0
AL · New York Yankees vs Boston Red SoxNew York Yankees lead 1–0
NL · Atlanta Braves vs Philadelphia PhilliesAtlanta Braves lead 1–0
NL · San Diego Padres vs Chicago CubsSan Diego Padres lead 1–0
Division Series
AL · Tampa Bay Rays vs NYY/BOSBest of 5
- Game 1NYY/BOS at Tampa Bay Rays · Sat, Oct 3, 6:30 PM EDT · Tropicana Field
- Game 2NYY/BOS at Tampa Bay Rays · Mon, Oct 5, 8:00 PM EDT · Tropicana Field
- Game 3Tampa Bay Rays at NYY/BOS · Wed, October 7 · time TBD · AL Stadium
- Game 4Tampa Bay Rays at NYY/BOS · Thu, October 8 · time TBD · AL Stadium · if necessary
- Game 5NYY/BOS at Tampa Bay Rays · Sat, October 10 · time TBD · Tropicana Field · if necessary
AL · Cleveland Guardians vs HOU/CWSBest of 5
- Game 1HOU/CWS at Cleveland Guardians · Sat, Oct 3, 1:00 PM EDT · Progressive Field
- Game 2HOU/CWS at Cleveland Guardians · Mon, Oct 5, 5:00 PM EDT · Progressive Field
- Game 3Cleveland Guardians at HOU/CWS · Wed, October 7 · time TBD · AL Stadium
- Game 4Cleveland Guardians at HOU/CWS · Thu, October 8 · time TBD · AL Stadium · if necessary
- Game 5HOU/CWS at Cleveland Guardians · Sat, October 10 · time TBD · Progressive Field · if necessary
NL · Milwaukee Brewers vs SD/CHCBest of 5
- Game 1SD/CHC at Milwaukee Brewers · Sat, October 3 · time TBD · American Family Field
- Game 2SD/CHC at Milwaukee Brewers · Sun, Oct 4, 4:00 PM EDT · American Family Field
- Game 3Milwaukee Brewers at SD/CHC · Tue, October 6 · time TBD · NL Stadium
- Game 4Milwaukee Brewers at SD/CHC · Wed, October 7 · time TBD · NL Stadium · if necessary
- Game 5SD/CHC at Milwaukee Brewers · Fri, October 9 · time TBD · American Family Field · if necessary
NL · Los Angeles Dodgers vs ATL/PHIBest of 5
- Game 1ATL/PHI at Los Angeles Dodgers · Sat, October 3 · time TBD · UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium
- Game 2ATL/PHI at Los Angeles Dodgers · Sun, Oct 4, 8:00 PM EDT · UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium
- Game 3Los Angeles Dodgers at ATL/PHI · Tue, October 6 · time TBD · NL Stadium
- Game 4Los Angeles Dodgers at ATL/PHI · Wed, October 7 · time TBD · NL Stadium · if necessary
- Game 5ATL/PHI at Los Angeles Dodgers · Fri, October 9 · time TBD · UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium · if necessary
League Championship Series
Begins Sun, October 11. Matchups are set as the previous round ends.
World Series
Begins Fri, October 23. Matchups are set as the previous round ends.
04 / Format
How the MLB postseason works
Twelve clubs, four rounds, no reseeding. The bracket is fixed when the regular season ends.
- Field
- 12 clubsSix per league: three division winners and three Wild Cards. The top two division winners in each league earn a bye.
- Wild Card Series
- Best of 3Seeds 3 through 6 in each league. Every game is played at the higher seed.
- Division Series
- Best of 5The Wild Card winners meet the top two seeds, in a 2-2-1 format.
- LCS & World Series
- Best of 7The pennant series and the World Series use a 2-3-2 format.
05 / Posterior in October
October, graded in public.
Posterior files its postseason Decisions before first pitch and grades them from the box score, exactly like the regular season. Wins and losses stay on the record, and nothing is selected after the fact.
06 / Questions
Postseason questions
When does the 2026 MLB postseason start?
MLB's published calendar opens the 2026 postseason on September 28, 2026, the day after the regular season ends on September 27, 2026. The Wild Card Series begins the bracket.
How many teams make the MLB playoffs?
Twelve: six from each league. The three division winners and three Wild Card clubs qualify in the American and National Leagues. The two best division winners in each league skip the Wild Card Series.
How long is each MLB playoff round?
The Wild Card Series is best of three, with every game at the higher seed. The Division Series is best of five. The League Championship Series and the World Series are best of seven.
Does Posterior publish picks during the postseason?
Yes. Postseason Decisions are filed before first pitch and graded from the box score like every regular-season slate, and every result stays on the public record.