2026 MLB playoffs: Our predictions for every round
The 2026 MLB playoffs kick off Tuesday afternoon with 12 groups vying for the prospect to hoist this yr’s World Series trophy.
The Dodgers look to additional cement their dynasty by turning into the primary National League staff to three-peat as World Series champions, whereas the Brewers hope to win their first title in membership historical past coming off a franchise-record 103-win common season. And remember concerning the Rays and Guardians, who additionally maintain first-round byes and hope to make it far in October. After securing a postseason berth on the ultimate day of the season, the Phillies search to capitalize on their rivalry window to win their first title since 2008 — they usually be part of the remainder of the wild-card groups, together with the Yankees and Red Sox, of their quest to shake up the playoffs and make deep runs.
Who will win every round? And which squad would be the final standing on the finish of the postseason? We requested 24 of our MLB consultants — from ESPN Digital, TV, Research and extra — to offer us their predictions.
Below are their picks for the wild-card winners, division collection winners, championship collection winners and, finally, the World Series champion.
Everything you need to know | Bracket
American League Wild Card Series
ALWC: Chicago White Sox vs. Houston Astros
Chicago White Sox, 13 votes
Houston Astros, 11 votes
Our voters had been cut up fairly evenly between Chicago and Houston. Why are the White Sox your decide? Both these groups have some deficiencies as in contrast with different playoff powerhouses. But the White Sox have strengths that ought to matter in October: left-handed sluggers and a bullpen. In a brief collection, supervisor Will Venable will deploy his pen early and sometimes — although the influence of that may very well be felt within the subsequent round if Chicago advances. On offense, Munetaka Murakami is in higher rhythm now than he was for a lot of the season’s second half. Combined with Miguel Vargas, it offers the White Sox some good steadiness. If they will comprise Houston’s Yordan Alvarez — and that is an enormous if — they need to win the collection in three video games. — Jesse Rogers
And why are the Astros yours? Are the Astros an excellent staff? No. But they’ve the perfect hitter on the planet in 2026 in Alvarez. They led the majors in dwelling runs. They have a lights-out nearer in Josh Hader. They haven’t got a lot pitching depth, which is why they completed .500, however that is not an enormous consider a three-game collection. And it isn’t as if Chicago is precisely operating out Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz in its rotation. The White Sox have energy, as nicely, however they strike out a ton; and over every of the previous three months, they hit .225, .232 and .228, respectively. — David Schoenfield
ALWC: Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees
New York Yankees 18
Boston Red Sox 6
After a historic run in July and August catapulted them into playoff rivalry, the Red Sox went .500 in September to complete out the season. What must occur for them to beat the Yankees in New York? The Red Sox won’t have the perfect pitcher on this collection, however they’ve a number of left-handers to throw at a staff vulnerable to them and now have a stronger bullpen depth. Boston’s lefties — a bunch that might embrace the recovering Garrett Crochet, although his status is “up in the air” for the wild-card collection, in response to supervisor Chad Tracy — might show problematic for sluggers Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger, amongst different Yankees.
What if Aaron Judge performs for New York? Well, what if he does? He was a minor consider September, when he rushed again from a rib harm solely to endure a proper calf pressure and land again on the injured checklist. Neither staff has had a potent offense these days, not like after they met final October, however I like Boston’s pitching on this yr’s matchup. — Eric Karabell
National League Wild Card Series
NLWC: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves 18
Philadelphia Phillies 6
The Phillies struggled down the stretch. How do they rebound to beat the Braves? If Philadelphia’s down-the-stretch struggles had been predictive of postseason doom, sportsbooks would not value them as practically a coin flip to beat Atlanta (+105 at DraftKings as of this writing). Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski’s stars-and-scrubs roster is more likely to falter in an extended collection, however within the brief time period, his quintet of Cristopher Sanchez, Zack Wheeler, Jhoan Duran, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber will carry Philadelphia previous its longtime division rival, once more. — Paul Hembekides
Tell us why you assume Atlanta comes out on prime: The Phillies have an enormous benefit as a staff of their rotation, however they will have little-to-no benefit on the day they face Atlanta’s Chris Sale — Game 1 of the three-game wild-card collection. The bullpens are of comparable high quality, and the lineups are additionally comparable — I give the Braves slight edges in each spots. This season, there was a 36-run hole (i.e. roughly 3½ wins over the common season) of their defensive efficiency, which helps clarify why the Braves’ pitchers outperformed their ERA estimators by about half a run whereas the Phillies had been a bit worse than theirs. The Braves can hit homers, catch the ball and lean on the bullpen — and Sale — to a slender victory in three video games. — Kiley McDaniel
NLWC: Chicago Cubs vs. San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres 17
Chicago Cubs 7
San Diego has momentum on its facet, as Chicago fizzled a bit towards season’s finish. What would the Cubs must do to knock out the Padres? Anyone dealing with the Padres must play with a lead as a result of Craig Stammen can begin rolling out a bullpen map that results in Mason Miller by the fourth or fifth inning, if the San Diego supervisor must. That makes attending to San Diego’s starters through the first journey by means of the order essential. The Cubs have the offense to do this and the protection to maintain San Diego off the board, offered their pitchers can hold the Pads within the park. — Bradford Doolittle
American League Division Series
ALDS: Winner of White Sox-Astros vs. Cleveland Guardians
Cleveland Guardians 19
Houston Astros 3
Chicago White Sox 2
The Guardians enter October with momentum and as a favourite to advance to the AL Championship Series. Why is that? The first-round bye performs into Cleveland’s strengths: It can line up its beginning pitching and correctly relaxation a bullpen that was used closely because the Guardians pushed for a playoff spot — and their eventual AL Central division title — down the stretch. They go into the playoffs because the league’s hottest staff, profitable 24 of their ultimate 35 video games — second to solely Milwaukee over that span. Their offense has been extra productive of late, with Steven Kwan, Travis Bazzana and, most significantly, Jose Ramirez ending sturdy. Ramirez, who missed 5 weeks following left hand surgical procedure in mid-June, appears to be gaining power in his wrist because the season goes on. They’re all heating up on the proper time. — Buster Olney
ALDS: Winner of Red Sox-Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays 18
New York Yankees 4
Boston Red Sox 2
You had been a part of the bulk that selected the Rays. What makes them your decide? The Rays are 55-26 at Tropicana Field this season, they usually have home-field benefit within the division collection. But they seem to be a problem wherever they play, as a result of they play a unique recreation than another staff within the league. They bunt method greater than another staff, they put the ball in play when Junior Caminero is not placing it within the outfield seats they usually run the bases till you tag them out. Plus, they will actually pitch. Tampa Bay pitchers walked 409 batters, by far the fewest in baseball. The Rays throw strikes, they swing at strikes they usually play the sport appropriately. That’s sufficient to get the them to the ALCS. — Tim Kurkjian
National League Division Series
NLDS: Winner of Phillies-Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers 23
Atlanta Braves 1
The Dodgers had been an nearly unanimous decide to advance out of the division collection. Why are they seen as such a lock? It’s quite simple: Whoever faces them must get by means of Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and, if essential, Tyler Glasnow. No staff can match the potential dominance of that group from prime to backside. The Dodgers should not good, in fact. There are questions stepping into concerning the well being of Shohei Ohtani, the manufacturing of Kyle Tucker and the reliability of Edwin Diaz, amongst different points. But on the finish of the day, the Dodgers will roll out basically 4 aces. That’s powerful to beat. — Alden Gonzalez
NLDS: Winner of Cubs-Padres vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers 22
San Diego Padres 2
You had been one in every of simply two voters to select the Padres over the Brewers. Why do you assume that San Diego can pull off the upset? The Brewers had been tied for the second-best file within the majors with the Rays after July 23. The solely staff higher? The Padres. San Diego went 41-18 throughout a stretch that coincided with the offense flipping from one of many worst in baseball to the most effective behind Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill. The Padres’ beginning rotation is regarding, however they’ve a top-tier bullpen constructed for October with Mason Miller looming within the ninth inning and October-tested stars within the lineup. Two years in the past, they practically knocked off the Dodgers, the NL’s No. 1 seed, within the NLDS. This yr, they get it achieved towards top-seeded Milwaukee. — Jorge Castillo
American League Championship Series
Tampa Bay Rays 18
New York Yankees 4
Boston Red Sox 2
Tampa Bay holds solely a one-game lead over the Yankees in head-to-head competitors in 2026, however the Rays are our voters’ overwhelming favourite to win the pennant. Why will New York come out on prime? It’s the Yankees’ pitching, which presents them with a better benefit than any postseason staff New York has had in fairly some time. The staff ERA is the Yankees’ finest since 1978, and their ERA+ (130) is their second-best mark ever, because of a stout four-man rotation of Cam Schlittler, Max Fried, Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon (the latter of whom won’t even be wanted for a five-game division collection).
New York’s hardest matchups come within the first two rounds — versus the 87-win Red Sox and the 1-seed Rays — however these brief collection give the Yankees the posh of blending and matching their pitching, which is one thing they have not been fairly as in a position to do lately. This yr, I see the Yankees being powerful to beat within the tighter, extra pitching-oriented video games of October. — Tristan Cockcroft
National League Championship Series
Milwaukee Brewers 16
Los Angeles Dodgers 7
San Diego Padres 1
In final yr’s NLCS, the Dodgers swept the top-seeded Brewers. A majority of our voters, together with you, have Milwaukee advancing this time round. Explain your reasoning. This is a considerably higher Brewers staff than final yr’s — and yet another geared up to deal with the Dodgers’ starting-pitching gauntlet. Jackson Chourio is best. Brice Turang is best. Garrett Mitchell is best. Jake Bauers is method higher. And whereas the offense does matter (keep in mind, the Brewers hit .118/.191/.193 within the NLCS final yr), Milwaukee’s pitching is improved too.
Between Jacob Misiorowski and Logan Henderson, the Brewers boast two of the toughest-to-hit starters in baseball. And the bullpen, a power in 2025, is every bit nearly as good this yr and may really get some results in maintain onto. Yes, the Dodgers completed seven video games forward of the place they had been in 2025, so it isn’t like they’re flailing, notably with how strongly they wrapped up the common season. The Brewers are merely surging extra; now’s their time. — Jeff Passan
World Series
Milwaukee Brewers 14
(Buster Olney, Tim Kurkjian, David Schoenfield, Brendan DeAngelis, Jeff Passan, Dan Mullen, AJ Mass, Jesse Rogers, Tim Keown, Tristan Cockcroft, Eric Karabell, JJ Post, Kiley McDaniel, Bradford Doolittle)
Los Angeles Dodgers 6
(Sean Coyle, Jorge Castillo, Jacob Nitzberg, Gregg Colli, Matt Marrone, Liz Finny)
Tampa Bay Rays 4
(Paul Hembekides, Scott Gustafson, Alden Gonzalez, Doug Glanville)
The Brewers had been our hottest decide, though they’ve faltered the previous few postseasons they’ve performed in. Why is that this yr totally different? The Brewers are essentially the most well-rounded staff within the majors — pitching, offense, protection, pace, supervisor. They play onerous and execute small ball when wanted, and it is a higher staff than earlier editions. The Brewers clearly have an ace in Misiorowski, however additionally they have essentially the most underrated No. 2 starter in baseball in Henderson. Critics level to Milwaukee’s lack of energy — after ending tied for twenty eighth in dwelling runs — however the staff was second within the majors in runs, and Chourio (.917 OPS over the ultimate two months), Bauers (third within the majors in OBP) and Turang (61 extra-base hits, 100 RBIs) can do sufficient injury in the midst of the lineup. — Schoenfield
Los Angeles was the favourite in our preseason predictions to win the World Series. Now, getting into October, solely six voters out of 24 picked the Dodgers. What makes you assume they will safe the three-peat? I picked towards the Dodgers the final two years, so I’ve determined I’m not going to do this once more. Yes, they’ve the oldest roster within the majors, and it has proven all through the season. Yes, Ohtani and others are banged up. Yes, the bullpen has questions and the offense was inconsistent all yr. People across the sport put these details collectively and say they imagine they’re weak. And but the Dodgers received 100 video games to run away with one other NL West title. They’re nonetheless essentially the most proficient staff in baseball with stars in every single place. I’ve discovered my lesson: Don’t decide towards the Dodgers. — Castillo
Most of our voters had an NL staff elevating the trophy, however you had been one in every of 4 to select Tampa Bay. How can the Rays come out victorious within the Fall Classic? There are many nice NL golf equipment this season, however just one staff wins the trophy — and the Rays are every bit nearly as good as the perfect groups on the market. When asking a variety of gamers, managers and announcers which groups had been the hardest they performed this yr, the Rays all the time come up.
The theme I hear lots is that the Rays have a nightmare lineup, particularly on the prime: In the 3- or 4-spot you will have Caminero, a game-changing energy hitter, and the remainder of the order is the definition of contact, chameleons and havoc. No straightforward outs, they usually current challenges in several methods. Hard to defend. Like all the time, they pitch nicely and catch the ball — however any yr the Rays get offense, like this one, be careful. And let’s not overlook, supervisor Kevin Cash has been doing this perpetually. He is sensible, ready and is aware of his staff and group in addition to anybody is aware of theirs. So, why not the Rays? — Glanville