MLB playoff picture 2026: Clinching scenarios, bracket, schedule

During the final days of the MLB regular season, some teams are already thinking about October while others are locked in tight pennant races. 

The Tampa Bay Rays (who have locked up the AL's No. 1 overall seed), Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox all have clinched postseason spots.

The Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and Cleveland Guardians are also on their way to securing their own berths in the coming days.

Beyond those top teams, there are many storylines to watch down the stretch: Where do current playoff matchups stand? Which games should you be watching each day leading up to October? Who will clinch next? And what does the playoff schedule look like?

Here's everything you need to know for the homestretch.

Key links: Standings | Wild-card standings 

Jump to: Bracket | Next to clinch | Tiebreakers | AL | NL | Key games

What are the current MLB playoff matchups?

American League

Wild-card round: (6) White Sox at (3) Astros, (5) Red Sox at (4) Yankees

ALDS: White Sox/Astros vs. (2) Guardians, Red Sox/Yankees vs. (1) Rays

National League

Wild-card round: (6) Phillies at (3) Braves, (5) Cubs at (4) Padres

NLDS: Phillies/Braves vs. (2) Dodgers, Padres/Cubs vs. (1) Brewers

Who can clinch a playoff spot next?

The Guardians, Padres and Phillies could clinch spots next.

Tiebreaker scenarios

All MLB playoff tiebreakers are determined by the standings, not tiebreaker games, with division titles, playoff spots and seeds decided by season head-to-head record (and other tiebreakers as needed). Here are the most likely scenarios to come into play over the final days.

AL Central

White Sox own tiebreaker over Guardians.

AL West

Astros own tiebreaker over Rangers.

AL wild card

Red Sox own tiebreaker over White Sox.

NL wild card

Cubs own tiebreaker over Phillies and Padres.

Phillies own tiebreaker over Padres.

Padres lose tiebreaker to Cubs and Phillies.

If there's a three-way tie: No. 4 seed Cubs, No. 5 seed Phillies, No. 6 seed Padres.

Breaking down the AL race

The Rays clinched the AL East title and AL's No.1 seed with the Yankees and Red Sox also in the postseason field. The Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians are in a tight race for the AL Central title, and the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers are part of a muddled AL West and wild-card picture.

And what about when these teams get to the postseason? Here's what their chances are for every round:

Breaking down the NL race

The Brewers, Dodgers and Braves have all clinched their divisions. The Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres hold the three wild-card spots.

And what about when these teams get to the playoffs? Here's what their chances are for every round:

Games to watch

Looking for something to watch today? Here are the playoff implications of every MLB matchup

Playoff schedule

Here's the 2026 MLB postseason schedule, from the wild-card round through the World Series.

Wild-card series

Best of three

Tuesday, Sept. 29
ALWC A, Game 1
ALWC B, Game 1
NLWC A, Game 1
NLWC B, Game 1

Wednesday, Sept. 30
ALWC A, Game 2
ALWC B, Game 2
NLWC A, Game 2
NLWC B, Game 2

Thursday, Oct. 1
ALWC A, Game 3 *
ALWC B, Game 3 *
NLWC A, Game 3 *
NLWC B, Game 3 *

* If necessary

Division series

​Best of five

Saturday, Oct. 3
ALDS A, Game 1
ALDS B, Game 1
NLDS A, Game 1
NLDS B, Game 1

Sunday, Oct. 4
NLDS A, Game 2
NLDS B, Game 2

Monday, Oct. 5
ALDS A, Game 2
ALDS B, Game 2

Tuesday, Oct. 6
NLDS A, Game 3
NLDS B, Game 3

Wednesday, Oct. 7
ALDS A, Game 3
ALDS B, Game 3
NLDS A, Game 4*
NLDS B, Game 4*

Thursday, Oct. 8
ALDS A, Game 4*
ALDS B, Game 4*

Friday, Oct. 9
NLDS A, Game 5*
NLDS B, Game 5*

Saturday, Oct. 10
ALDS A, Game 5*
ALDS B, Game 5*

* If necessary

League championship series

Best of seven

Sunday, Oct. 11
NLCS Game 1

Monday, Oct. 12
ALCS Game 1
NLCS Game 2

Tuesday, Oct. 13
ALCS Game 2

Wednesday, Oct. 14
NLCS Game 3

Thursday, Oct. 15
ALCS Game 3
NLCS Game 4

Friday, Oct. 16
ALCS Game 4
NLCS Game 5*

Saturday, Oct. 17
ALCS Game 5*

Sunday, Oct. 18
NLCS Game 6*

Monday, Oct. 19
ALCS Game 6*
NLCS Game 7*

Tuesday, Oct. 20
ALCS Game 7*

* If necessary

World Series

Best of seven

Game 1: Friday, Oct. 23
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 24
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 26
Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 27
Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 28*
Game 6: Friday, Oct. 30*
Game 7: Saturday, Oct. 31*

* If necessary