2026 MLB Playoffs Set: Astros Win AL West, Phillies Clinch Wild Card — SkimNews
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- Houston Astros won the American League West division title after the Texas Rangers lost their Game 162, securing home-field advantage in the wild-card series
- Philadelphia Phillies claimed the final National League wild-card berth by winning their regular-season finale, edging out competing teams in the standings
- Chicago White Sox will open the wild-card round on the road against the Astros in a best-of-three series starting Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET
- Boston Red Sox face the New York Yankees in a best-of-three wild-card series beginning Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET, with all games broadcast on NBC or Peacock
- Atlanta Braves will host the Phillies in the NL wild-card series, with Game 1 scheduled for Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock
- San Diego Padres earned home-field advantage in their wild-card matchup against the Chicago Cubs, with Game 1 set for Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET
- Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers await their NLDS opponents after securing division titles, with the Dodgers hosting the Phillies-Braves winner and the Brewers facing the Padres-Cubs winner
Why it matters: The Astros gain home-field advantage in the wild-card round by clinching the AL West, while the Phillies’ last-minute entry forces a high-pressure matchup against the Braves; the Yankees-Red Sox showdown marks a rare playoff meeting between the rivals, increasing stakes for both franchises and broadcasters.
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