2026 MLB Playoff Bracket Set, Wild Cards Begin Tuesday — SkimNews
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- Rays won the AL East and earned the American League's best record plus a bye straight to the ALDS.
- Guardians squeaked past the White Sox to claim the AL Central and the other AL bye, while the Astros took the AL West.
- Yankees (No. 4 seed) host the Red Sox (No. 5) in an AL Wild Card Series matchup between division rivals.
- Braves won the NL East and draw the Phillies (No. 6), who the source notes barely held their playoff berth after an ugly final week.
- Padres (No. 4) host the Cubs (No. 5) in the other NL Wild Card Series.
- Brewers and reigning champion Dodgers both earned NL byes out of the Central and West, respectively.
- The Wild Card Series runs Tuesday through Thursday, with the Division Series starting October 3 and the World Series scheduled for October 23.
Why it matters: Six first-round matchups over three days will trim a 12-team field to eight by Thursday, setting the Division Series draw for October 3. The Phillies' last-week collapse and the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry Wild Card give the opening round immediate stakes for two of baseball's biggest markets.
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