2026 MLB playoff predictions: Expert picks for Yankees vs. Red Sox, Cubs vs. Padres and every Wild Card Series — SkimNews
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Braves hold a projected edge over the Phillies due to Chris Sale's Game 1 dominance and Philadelphia's shaky late-season rotation, with multiple analysts picking Atlanta in three games
- White Sox are favored by several writers to oust the Astros despite Houston's pedigree, cited for superior power hitting and fresher bullpen options against a -32 run differential team
- Yankees are widely expected to advance past the Red Sox, even if Aaron Judge is absent, as their starting pitching and offensive resilience are seen as decisive in the short series
- Padres are viewed as slight favorites over the Cubs thanks to a deeper bullpen and stabilized rotation with Nick Pivetta’s return, though one analyst pivots to Chicago on Alex Bregman’s hot finish
- DraftKings provides official series odds, aligning with expert sentiment by listing Yankees, Braves, Padres, and White Sox as favorites in their respective Wild Card matchups
Why it matters: The consensus among analysts gives clear edges to higher-seeded teams with stronger rotations and bullpens, making health and pitching depth the deciding factors in these short series. For bettors and fans, this shifts focus from star power to backend reliability — where the Padres' pen and Yankees' starters offer tangible advantages not fully captured by seeding alone.
Ask SkimNews
