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Playoffs: Schedule, postseason bracket, standings

ESPN Sunday 27 September 2026, 22:49 UTC By ESPN 4 min read
Key Points

The 2026 MLB playoffs have arrived! Entering Sunday's Game 162, there was still one division title and one wild-card spot up for grabs. In the National League, the Phillies won their regular season finale to secure the last wild-card spot.

The 2026 MLB playoffs have arrived! Entering Sunday's Game 162, there was still one division title and one wild-card spot up for grabs. In the National League, the Phillies won their regular season finale to secure the last wild-card spot. The Astros and Rangers entered their respective games on Sunday tied atop the American League West, with Houston taking home the division title after Texas lost its final game. The 12-team postseason will kick off with an action-packed wild-card round that starts Tuesday, featuring eight teams battling for four spots to advance to the eight-team division series. From the first pitch of the wild-card games to the last out of the World Series, we've got you covered with the postseason bracket, schedules, results and how to watch every game this October. Latest news and analysis MLB playoffs preview: World Series odds, likely MVPs and how far every team will go The 12-team playoff field is set American League Wild Card Series Best-of-three series All times ET Chicago White Sox at Houston Astros Game 1: Tuesday at 5 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN) Game 2: Wednesday at 5 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN) Game 3*: Thursday at 5 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN) *if necessary Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees Game 1: Tuesday at 8 p.m. (NBC/Peacock) Game 2: Wednesday at 8 p.m. (NBC/Peacock) Game 3*: Thursday at 8 p.m. (NBC/Peacock) *if necessary National League Wild Card Series Best-of-three series All times ET Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves Game 1: Tuesday at 2 p.m. (NBC/Peacock) Game 2: Wednesday at 2 p.m. (NBC/Peacock) Game 3*: Thursday at 2 p.m. (NBC/Peacock) *if necessary Chicago Cubs at San Diego Padres Game 1: Tuesday at 10 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN) Game 2: Wednesday at 10 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN) Game 3*: Thursday at 10 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN) *if necessary American League Division Series Best-of-five series Cleveland Guardians vs. winner of White Sox/Astros Game 1: TBD at Cleveland, Saturday (TBS/HBO Max) Game 2: TBD at Cleveland, Monday, Oct. 5 (TBS/HBO Max) Game 3: Cleveland at TBD, Wednesday, Oct. 7 (TBS/HBO Max) Game 4*: Cleveland at TBD, Thursday, Oct. 8 (TBS/HBO Max) Game 5*: TBD at Cleveland, Saturday, Oct. 10 (TBS/HBO Max) *if necessary Tampa Bay Rays vs. winner of Red Sox/Yankees Game 1: TBD at Tampa Bay, Saturday (TBS/HBO Max) Game 2: TBD at Tampa Bay, Monday, Oct. 5 (TBS/HBO Max) Game 3: Tampa Bay at TBD, Wednesday, Oct. 7 (TBS/HBO Max) Game 4*: Tampa Bay at TBD, Thursday, Oct. 8 (TBS/HBO Max) Game 5*: TBD at Tampa Bay, Saturday, Oct. 10 (TBS/HBO Max) *if necessary National League Division Series Best-of-five series Los Angeles Dodgers vs. winner of Phillies/Braves Game 1: TBD at Los Angeles, Saturday (FOX/FS1) Game 2: TBD at Los Angeles, Sunday (FOX/FS1) Game 3: Los Angeles at TBD, Tuesday, Oct. 6 (FOX/FS1) Game 4*: Los Angeles at TBD, Wednesday, Oct. 7 (FOX/FS1) Game 5*: TBD at Los Angeles, Friday, Oct. 9 (FOX/FS1) *if necessary Milwaukee Brewers vs. winner of Padres/Cubs Game 1: TBD at Milwaukee, Saturday (FOX/FS1) Game 2: TBD at Milwaukee, Sunday (FOX/FS1) Game 3: Milwaukee at TBD, Tuesday, Oct. 6 (FOX/FS1) Game 4*: Milwaukee at TBD, Wednesday, Oct. 7 (FOX/FS1) Game 5*: TBD at Milwaukee, Friday, Oct. 9 (FOX/FS1) *if necessary American League Championship Series Best-of-seven series Game 1: Monday, Oct. 12 (TBS/HBO Max) Game 2: Tuesday, Oct. 13 (TBS/HBO Max) Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 15 (TBS/HBO Max) Game 4: Friday, Oct. 16 (TBS/HBO Max) Game 5*: Saturday, Oct. 17 (TBS/HBO Max) Game 6*: Monday, Oct. 19 (TBS/HBO Max) Game 7*: Tuesday, Oct. 20 (TBS/HBO Max) *if necessary National League Championship Series Best-of-seven series Game 1: Sunday, Oct. 11 (FOX/FS1) Game 2: Monday, Oct. 12 (FOX/FS1) Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 14 (FOX/FS1) Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 15 (FOX/FS1) Game 5*: Friday, Oct. 16 (FOX/FS1) Game 6*: Sunday, Oct. 18 (FOX/FS1) Game 7*: Monday, Oct. 19 (FOX/FS1) *if necessary World Series Best-of-seven series Game 1: Friday, Oct. 23 (FOX) Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 24 (FOX) Game 3: Monday, Oct. 26 (FOX) Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 27 (FOX) Game 5*: Wednesday, Oct. 28 (FOX) Game 6*: Friday, Oct. 30 (FOX) Game 7*: Saturday, Oct. 31 (FOX) *if necessary
the National League (ORG) Phillies (ORG) The Astros and Rangers (ORG) American (ORG) Houston (LOCATION) Texas (LOCATION) the World Series (EVENT) MLB (ORG) World Series (EVENT) American League Wild Card Series Best-of-three (ORG) ET Chicago White Sox (ORG) Houston Astros Game 1 (ORG) Peacock/NBCSN (ORG) Boston Red Sox (ORG) New York Yankees Game 1 (ORG)
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