
The Braves advance to face the Dodgers, joining the White Sox, Yankees, and Padres in the League Division Series.
AI-generated summary
The 2026 MLB playoffs utilize a Wild Card Series format introduced in 2022. The Game 1 winner in this format has historically won the series in 19 of 20 instances.
Eight teams remain in the 2026 MLB playoffs. The Braves ousted the Phillies on Thursday night in Wild Card Series Game 3, moving on to face the reigning champion Dodgers in the NLDS. The 2026 MLB playoffs are underway, and three teams have punched their ticket to the League Division Series. The White Sox, Yankees and Padres all swept their competition in the best-of-three Wild Card Series, knocking out the Astros, Red Sox and Cubs, respectively, on Wednesday.
With three sweeps this round and the Braves' Game 3 win, the Game 1 winner in the Wild Card Series has now gone on to win the series in 19 of 20 tries since the format was introduced in 2022.
The Rays, Guardians, Brewers and Dodgers all secured byes to the LDS 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 Cubs, while the two-time reigning champion Dodgers get the Braves.
Below is a look at the full 2026 MLB playoff bracket and the playoff schedule.
2026 MLB playoff bracket
2026 MLB playoff schedule
All times Eastern
*if needed
Wild Card Series scores
Thursday, Oct. 1
NL Wild Card Series Game 3: Braves 6, Phillies 2 (Atlanta wins 2-1)
Wednesday, Sept. 30
NL Wild Card Series Game 2: Phillies 4, Braves 3 (10)
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: Padres 4, Cubs 1 (San Diego wins 2-0)
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
NLDS Game 1: Braves @ Dodgers, 4 p.m., Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
ALDS Game 1: Yankees @ Rays, 6:30 p.m., TBS, truTV, HBO Max
NLDS Game 1: Padres @ Brewers, 8:30 p.m., Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
Sunday, Oct. 4
NLDS Game 2: Padres @ Brewers, 4 p.m., Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
NLDS Game 2: Braves @ Dodgers, 8 p.m., Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
Monday, Oct. 5
ALDS Game 2: White Sox @ Guardians, 5 p.m., TBS, truTV, HBO Max
ALDS Game 2: Yankees @ Rays, 8 p.m., TBS, truTV, HBO Max
Tuesday, Oct. 6
NLDS Game 3: Dodgers @ Braves, 6 p.m., Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
NLDS Game 3: Brewers @ Padres, 9:30 p.m., Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
Wednesday, Oct. 7
ALDS Game 3: Guardians @ White Sox, 4 p.m., TBS, truTV, HBO Max
NLDS Game 4*: Dodgers @ Braves, 6 p.m., Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
ALDS Game 3: Rays @ Yankees, 8 p.m., TBS, truTV, HBO Max
NLDS Game 4*: Brewers @ Padres, 10 p.m., Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
Thursday, Oct. 8
ALDS Game 4*: Guardians @ White Sox, 5 p.m., TBS, truTV, HBO Max
ALDS Game 4*: Rays @ Yankees, 8 p.m., TBS, truTV, HBO Max
Friday, Oct. 9
NLDS Game 5*: Padres @ Brewers, 4:30 p.m., Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
NLDS Game 5*: Braves @ Dodgers, 8 p.m., Fox/FS1/Fox Deportes/fubo
Saturday, Oct. 10
ALDS Game 5*: White Sox @ Guardians, 5 p.m., TBS, truTV, HBO Max
ALDS Game 5*: Yankees @ Rays, 8 p.m., 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
Wednesday, Oct. 14
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
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The League Division Series will begin on October 3, 2026.
Very likely · Within days

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