Two teams are already moving on to the League Division Series. The White Sox took down the Astros on Wednesday to complete a two-game sweep in the Wild Card Series, securing a berth in the ALDS and a date with the Guardians. That marks their first playoff series win since the 2005 World Series. The Yankees, meanwhile, decimated the division rival Red Sox to earn their own ALDS matchup against the Rays.
The National League half of the bracket was less one-sided, as the Phillies were able to stave off elimination in Game 2, beating the Braves in a back-and-forth extra-innings affair to force a do-or-die Game 3 on Thursday.
The Rays, Guardians, Brewers and Dodgers all secured byes and await the winners in the next round. The Rays are the American League's top seed and will face the Yankees in the ALDS. The Guardians, despite an 85-77 record that ranks 10th out of the 12 playoff teams, earned the No. 2 seed in the AL and will face the 84-win White Sox in the next round.
The Brewers (103 wins) and Dodgers (100 wins) both hit triple digits in the win column in the regular season, and they will host NLDS Game 1s on Saturday. The Brewers get the Padres-Cubs winner, while the two-time reigning champion Dodgers get either the Braves or the Phillies.
Below is a look at the full 2026 MLB playoff bracket and the playoff schedule.
2026 MLB playoff bracket
2026 MLB playoff schedule
*if needed
Wild Card Series schedule
Wednesday, Sept. 30
NL Wild Card Series Game 2: Phillies 4, Braves 3 (10) (Series tied 1-1)
AL Wild Card Series Game 2: White Sox 7, Astros 3 (Chicago wins 2-0)
AL Wild Card Series Game 2: Yankees 9, Red Sox 2 (New York wins 2-0)
NL Wild Card Series Game 2: Cubs @ Padres, 10 p.m., Peacock/NBCSN (San Diego leads 1-0)
Thursday, Oct. 1
NL Wild Card Series Game 3: Phillies @ Braves, 2 p.m., NBC/fubo
NL Wild Card Series Game 3*: Cubs @ Padres, 8 p.m., Peacock/NBCSN
Game times subject to change based on Game 3 schedule
Wild Card Series scores
Tuesday, Sept. 29
NL Wild Card Series Game 1: Braves 5, Phillies 3
AL Wild Card Series Game 1: White Sox 6, Astros 3
AL Wild Card Series Game 1: Yankees 9, Red Sox 0
NL Wild Card Series Game 1: Padres 8, Cubs 0
Division Series
Saturday, Oct. 3
ALDS Game 1: White Sox @ Guardians, 1 p.m., TBS, truTV, HBO Max
ALDS Game 1: TBS, truTV, HBO Max
NLDS Game 1: Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
NLDS Game 1: Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
Sunday, Oct. 4
NLDS Game 2: Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
NLDS Game 2: Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
Monday, Oct. 5
ALDS Game 2: White Sox @ Guardians, 5 p.m., TBS, truTV, HBO Max
ALDS Game 2: TBS, truTV, HBO Max
Tuesday, Oct. 6
NLDS Game 3: Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
NLDS Game 3: Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
Wednesday, Oct. 7
ALDS Game 3: TBS, truTV, HBO Max
ALDS Game 3: TBS, truTV, HBO Max
NLDS Game 4*: Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
NLDS Game 4*: Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
Thursday, Oct. 8
ALDS Game 4*: TBS, truTV, HBO Max
ALDS Game 4*: TBS, truTV, HBO Max
Friday, Oct. 9
NLDS Game 5*: Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
NLDS Game 5*: Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
Saturday, Oct. 10
ALDS Game 5*: TBS, truTV, HBO Max
ALDS Game 5*: TBS, truTV, HBO Max
Championship Series
Sunday, Oct. 11
NLCS Game 1: Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
Monday, Oct. 12
ALCS Game 1: TBS, truTV, HBO Max
NLCS Game 2: Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
Tuesday, Oct. 13
ALCS Game 2: TBS, truTV, HBO Max
NLCS Game 3: Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
Thursday, Oct. 15
ALCS Game 3: TBS, truTV, HBO Max
NLCS Game 4: Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
Friday, Oct. 16
ALCS Game 4: TBS, truTV, HBO Max
NLCS Game 5*: Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
Saturday, Oct. 17
ALCS Game 5*: TBS, truTV, HBO Max
Sunday, Oct. 18
NLCS Game 6*: Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
Monday, Oct. 19
ALCS Game 6*: TBS, truTV, HBO Max
NLCS Game 7*: Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
Tuesday, Oct. 20
ALCS Game 7*: TBS, truTV, HBO Max
World Series
Friday, Oct. 23
World Series Game 1: Fox/Fox Deportes/fubo
Saturday, Oct. 24
World Series Game 2: Fox/Fox Deportes/fubo
Monday, Oct. 25
World Series Game 3: Fox/Fox Deportes/fubo
Tuesday, Oct. 27
World Series Game 4: Fox/Fox Deportes/fubo
Wednesday, Oct. 28
World Series Game 5*: Fox/Fox Deportes/fubo
Friday, Oct. 30
World Series Game 6*: Fox/Fox Deportes/fubo
