Whether a team rolled into October or squeaked in, every team in the postseason has a shot to win it all. Here is the case for each club as a legit World Series championship contender.
Enter your picks in the 2026 MLB Postseason Bracket Challenge presented by Zillow before the first game starts today at 2 p.m. ET and you could win $10,000.
We asked MLB.com writers and editors to predict how each Wild Card Series will play out, and here is who they think will advance to the Division Series.
MLB unveiled the ballot for this year’s All-MLB Team, and you can vote now through Oct. 9 as we choose who will be honored as baseball’s best at each position.
Aaron Judge is not the only star going into the postseason at less than 100%. Here is a rundown of every player who is dealing with an injury and their current status.
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MLB Tonight is your home this Postseason! Catch live coverage with highlights, interviews, expert analysis and more before and after every Postseason game, starting today at noon ET.
Welcome to The Pregame Lineup, a weekday newsletter that gets you up to speed on everything you need to know. Today’s edition is brought to you by David Adler. We have our Wild Card Series predictions, the biggest playoff ABS storylines and a guide to every Game 1 today.
The wait is over. It’s time for playoff baseball. Let’s make some picks.
The four Wild Card Series start today — White Sox vs. Astros and Yankees vs. Red Sox in the American League, Phillies vs. Braves and Cubs vs. Padres in the National League.
The White Sox are one of MLB’s best stories, going from 121 losses just two years ago to the playoffs today. But in the end we picked the Astros — even though they’re the first division winner ever to not finish over .500 — for their veteran core, for their postseason experience … and for having the best player in the series in MVP favorite Yordan Alvarez.
Aaron Judge is out for the Wild Card Series. But we’re still taking the Bronx Bombers in this rivalry rematch even without their captain and reigning MVP. Why? Starting pitching. Cy Young favorite Cam Schlittler, Max Fried and Gerrit Cole are a fearsome trio to have to face in a best-of-three series. We think New York pulls it out over Boston for a second straight year.
There’s a little bit of a momentum factor in this showdown of NL East rivals: The Phillies barely got into the playoffs on the last day of the season (and had to burn Zack Wheeler to do it). We also like the Braves’ deep lineup, with Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, Michael Harris II and Drake Baldwin, vs. the Phillies’ top-heavy order that relies a lot on Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper.
In another Wild Card rematch (Chicago won the 2025 series in three), both teams have a strong case. The Cubs were the best hitting team and the best fielding team in the Majors this season, and they have the runaway NL MVP favorite, Pete Crow-Armstrong. And yet, our experts picked the Padres. Why? Home-field advantage for one. Last year’s series was at Wrigley; this one is at Petco Park, where San Diego went 51-30 this season. The Padres are also red-hot entering the playoffs, winning 18 of their final 22 games. And then there’s the bullpen — the best in baseball, led by the dominant Mason Miller.
This is the first postseason under the new ABS challenge system, where players can challenge ball and strike calls.
Like with anything new, all eyes are going to be on the ABS challenges in the playoffs — where every call is being magnified and challenges will have the potential to change the course of a playoff game, if not an entire series.
1) Phillies-Braves: Bryce Harper LOVES to challenge.
Harper sees precious few pitches in the strike zone as it is. He’s not trying to let those go by — so if a strike gets called against him that he doesn’t think should be, you can bet he’s challenging. Harper is one of the most aggressive challengers in the Majors, pulling the trigger on 17% of all the challengeable pitches he sees. He doesn’t win all the time — he’s 21-for-47 — but he wins on volume. Those 47 challenges … and those 21 successfulchallenges … are both second most of any hitter.
2) Cubs-Padres: The Cubs win their challenges the most often of any playoff team.
Chicago has won 59% of its challenges this season, a top-five mark in the Majors and the best of any 2026 playoff team. Their batters and catchers are great at successfully overturning calls — the Cubs rank behind only the Phillies in Statcast’s “Overturns vs. Expected” metric. Carson Kelly’s 69% challenge win rate is tops for any catcher who challenged as many calls as he did in the regular season, while the disciplined Seiya Suzuki (12-5 on challenges) and Alex Bregman (15 challenges won) are among the Cubs’ best hitters.
3) White Sox-Astros: Jose Altuve is both aggressive AND good.
Altuve, with his small strike zone that’s difficult to call, has challenged 37 times this season, third most of any hitter (right behind Harper). And he’s smart with his aggressiveness. Altuve wins 57% of his challenges even while challenging so much. His 21 wins are tied for second most with Harper, and he got there on 10 fewer challenges. Altuve has taken six strikeouts off the board against him, which is a lot. He makes his challenges count.
4) Red Sox-Yankees: Adley is a terrific challenging catcher.
Boston’s big-ticket Trade Deadline acquisition, Adley Rutschman, has had his biggest impact defensively — and that extends to challenging calls. Rutschman is 46-22 on challenges this season, a 68% win rate — and he’s 24-10 (71%) since he got to Boston. Red Sox catchers have been very good in particular at creating strikeouts via successful challenges — their 43 “K flips” are third most of any team, and most of any playoff team. Rutschman is now a big part of that.
Starting pitchers: Jesús Luzardo (14-5, 2.86 ERA, 221 K’s) vs. Chris Sale (14-9, 2.16 ERA, 200 K’s)
Top storyline: Can the Phillies bounce back from their late-season skid? It will be tough against the Cy Young contender Sale and their division rivals, but Philadelphia does have the stars of its own, and this is the team’s fifth straight postseason run.
Starting pitchers: Hagen Smith (3-3, 1.29 ERA, 41 K’s) vs. AJ Blubaugh (5-3, 3.66 ERA, 94 K’s)
Top storyline: Are either of these teams for real? Nobody saw this season coming from the White Sox, and the Astros by record are the weakest division winner ever. One of these lineups has to come alive, Chicago led by Munetaka Murakami and Houston by Yordan Alvarez.
Starting pitchers: Payton Tolle (9-6, 3.03 ERA, 171 K’s) vs. Cam Schlittler (14-6, 1.95 ERA, 239 K’S)
Top storyline: Can the Yankees’ pitching carry them? Even with no Judge, the Yanks have three aces going, starting with Schlittler in tonight’s “slobberknocker” of a matchup.
Starting pitchers: Matthew Boyd (10-5, 3.91 ERA, 96 K’s) vs. Michael King (12-10, 3.21ERA, 159 K’s)
Top storyline: Can the Cubs score early and often? If the Padres get into the late innings with a lead, it’s Miller Time. So PCA and Chicago’s powerhouse lineup need to jump on San Diego.
VOTE NOW FOR THE ALL-MLB TEAMS
The 2026 All-MLB Team nominees have been announced, and you can vote now to help decide the top players in the Majors this season.
Fans can vote every day for their 2026 All-MLB choices at MLB.com/allmlb. Voting is open until Friday, Oct. 9, at 2 p.m. ET.
The ballot will also be available in Spanish at MLB.com/todomlb.
The All-MLB Teams include one catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop and designated hitter, three outfielders, five starting pitchers and two relief pitchers. The teams are based on performance in the 2026 regular season only.
Gosar Calls on the Department of Interior to Ensure Arizona Receives
Fair Treatment in Colorado River Framework
YUMA, AZ — Congressman Paul Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09), issued the following statement after sending a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum calling on the Department to ensure Arizona receives fair treatment in the federal government’s new Colorado River operating framework:
“Arizona cannot continue to be asked to take the biggest hit. Arizona has conserved water, invested in infrastructure, stored water, and accepted reductions. Our farmers, communities, and businesses have done their part. The responsibility now needs to be shared across the entire Basin.
Arizona’s circumstances have changed dramatically since Congress authorized the Central Arizona Project in 1968. Our state has grown from approximately 1.7 million residents to more than 7.6 million and has become a national center for agriculture, advanced manufacturing, semiconductor production, aerospace, and national defense.
Reliable water supplies are no longer simply an Arizona issue. They are a matter of national economic and national security. Arizona is home to critical military installations, defense industries, farmers who help feed the nation, and some of the country’s most important semiconductor and advanced manufacturing investments. We need to ensure Arizona has the water necessary to continue contributing to the strength and security of our country.
I have been warning for years that we cannot conserve our way out of a supply problem. Conservation is essential, but we also need to create, store, and move more water. I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to expanding America’s water infrastructure and the Department’s willingness to pursue innovative solutions.
I will continue working with the administration and the Department to find a long-lasting solution that protects the Colorado River system while ensuring Arizona is treated fairly.
Arizona is not asking for special treatment. We are asking for equal treatment and a fair share of the responsibility,”stated Congressman Paul Gosar.
Background
The Department of the Interior’s 2027–2028 Operating Guidelines establish a 1.25 million acre-foot annual reduction for the Lower Basin. Under the Lower Basin sharing arrangement, Arizona would absorb 760,000 acre-feet of that reduction, compared with 440,000 acre-feet for California and 50,000 acre-feet for Nevada.
Since first being elected to Congress, Representative Gosar has actively worked to address the West’s long-term water challenges. In 2020, he founded and chaired the bipartisan Colorado River Caucus and has consistently advocated for water augmentation, desalination, new conveyance, expanded storage, aquifer recharge, and federal investment in long-term water infrastructure.
Gosar has also convened Arizona water roundtables with water authorities, engineers, hydrologists, local officials, and infrastructure experts to identify practical solutions to the region’s water challenges.
In his letter, Gosar urged the administration to continue pursuing water development alongside conservation, including desalination, advanced water treatment, aquifer recharge, additional storage, conveyance improvements, and other projects capable of increasing the West’s available water supply.
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Welcome to The Pregame Lineup, a weekday newsletter that gets you up to speed on everything you need to know for today. Today’s edition is brought to you by David Adler. We have playoff X-factors, last week’s poll results and more.
The Wild Card Series start tomorrow. Let’s pick out some players who could swing each matchup.
Here’s one playoff X-factor for each team in the four Wild Card Series:
White Sox: Munetaka Murakami and Colson Montgomery
We’re combining Mune and Montgomery because they’re the same type of X-factor: They could change the series with one swing … or they could strike out every time and sink the White Sox. Murakami mashed 35 home runs this season but struck out 196 times; Montgomery hit 31 homers but set the MLB record with 227 K’s.
Astros: Lucas Spence
The 23-year-old rookie helped save the Astros’ season over the weekend with four home runs in the final series — including a three-homer game — as Houston won the AL West. Now the team’s No. 12 prospect looks like he’s earned the nod in center field for the playoffs. There are always breakout stars in October, and if Spence keeps swinging a hot bat, he could be one.
Anthony looked like a budding superstar coming into the season, but he struggled badly to start the year and then missed almost four months due to injury. He finally looked a little better once he came back, and he was red-hot over the final week of the season. If Anthony takes another step in the playoffs, he has the upside to be the best player in the Red Sox lineup.
Yankees: Paul Goldschmidt
The Red Sox have the most lefty-heavy pitching staff in 40 years, including Wild Card Game 1 starter Payton Tolle, potential Game 3 starter Ranger Suarez and Aroldis Chapman, Erik Miller and maybe even Garrett Crochet in the bullpen. That means at some point in this series, the 38-year-old veteran Goldschmidt is going to have the chance to make an impact. Goldy has reinvented himself as an elite righty platoon bat, with a .967 OPS vs. lefties this season.
Bohm did not have a very good year. But he hits lefties. Bohm batted .292 with an .816 OPS against left-handers this season, which is much better than his numbers vs. righties. With the Phils facing Chris Sale in Game 1, Bohm will have to step up. He’s one of the only Phillies players with success against Sale — Bohm is a career .304 hitter in 25 plate appearances against the Braves ace, including a home run off Sale this September.
Braves: Austin Riley
Riley just had the worst full season of his career. But there’s one team he always seems to rake against — and that’s his Wild Card Series foe, the Phillies. Even as he posted a career-low .654 OPS this year, Riley had an .856 OPS and four home runs in 13 games against Philadelphia. And in his career, he has a .943 OPS and 24 home runs in 100 games vs. the Phillies.
A week after busting his face, Bregman was back in the Cubs lineup and mashing home runs. He’s been the best hitter in the Majorssince the All-Star break — yes, even better than PCA, or the superstar on the other side in this series, Fernando Tatis Jr. He’s a warrior. Oh, and he also has 19 career postseason home runs.
Padres: Ty France
As the Padres caught fire down the stretch, one of their biggest impact bats — and biggest surprises — was France, who didn’t get a single Major League offer this offseason, signed a Minor League deal with San Diego and is now a top-10 hitter in the National League. France will be one of the Padres’ most important middle-of-the-order bats in this series.
THE LATEST ON KEY POSTSEASON INJURIES
There are a bunch of high-profile injuries to watch at the start of the Wild Card Series. Here’s the latest on a few of the biggest names:
Aaron Judge
A day before the Yankees play Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, we still don’t know whether Aaron Judge will be in the lineup due to his strained right calf. Today’s update from manager Aaron Boone: “We’ll listen to the trainers and medical, and see where we’re at.”
And Judge himself said today: “We’re all going to be smart, but I think they all know I want to be out there, especially in the first game.”
The reigning AL MVP did some indoor hitting and throwing yesterday, and Judge was planning to hit during the Yankees’ workout today.
Luis Arraez
The Phillies’ star second baseman will NOT be on the Wild Card Series roster after spraining his left ankle on Thursday. Arraez has not even swung a bat since suffering the injury.
Jesús Luzardo
Luzardo is getting the start for Game 1against Atlanta after returning from shoulder inflammation to pitch a spotless inning in relief in the Phils’ must-win Game 162. The All-Star lefty said he was ready for whatever the Phillies need in the playoffs — but how far can he go? Luzardo might just be more or less an opener in Game 1.
Garrett Crochet
The Red Sox are still finalizing their pitching plan for their rematch against the Yankees, but they sound open to including Crochet on the roster as a reliever. If they do activate the ace lefty, one key question will be whether Crochet can pitch more than once in a short series.
63% of you picked Milwaukee as the team most likely to win its first title, 21% picked the Rays and 16% picked the Padres.
The Brewers are certainly a logical choice — they finished with the best record in baseball this season at 103-59. But they also have to go through a National League playoff bracket that includes the back-to-back champion Dodgers. We’ll see if they can stop the three-peat.
SHO ME THE JERSEYS
The most popular jersey of the 2026 season should be no surprise: For the fourth straight season, international superstar Shohei Ohtani was purchased more than any other player. Yankees captain Aaron Judge ranked second — also hardly an upset.
But nobody on the list, which was released on Friday, has more helium than Pete Crow-Armstrong. The Cubs sensation finished third, up from No. 10 on the preseason rankings and No. 16 in 2025. If the likely NL MVP has a strong postseason and leads Chicago to championship glory, who knows? He may mount a real challenge to Ohtani next year.
A few other observations:
• Just like last year, Ohtani was one of four Dodgers in the Top 20, along with Freddie Freeman (No. 6), Mookie Betts (No. 8) and World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (No. 9), who replaced a retired Clayton Kershaw.
• With White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami (No. 20) joining Ohtani and Yamamoto, this marks the first time three Japanese players cracked the list.
• In an interesting twist, PCA was the highest-ranking Cubs player since Javier Báez finished third in 2018. The two were famously traded for each other at the 2021 Deadline.
With the Astros and Phillies filling out the bracket on the final day of the regular season, we’ve got everything you need to know about the playoff field, including seeding for all 12 teams and the postseason schedule.
The regular season has come and gone, but before we get caught up in the playoffs, let’s take a moment to look back on the players who led their respective leagues in notable statistical categories this year.
Pete Alonso was an RBI machine this season, leading the AL with 113 for the Orioles. That made him the first player since RBIs became official to lead each league, having topped the NL with the Mets in 2022.
See this year’s nominees for the All-MLB team presented by MGM Rewards, recognizing and commemorating the top performers during the 2026 regular season, at 7 p.m. ET on MLB Network. Then visit MLB.com/AllMLB to cast your vote!
Catch the MiLB Awards, highlighting the game’s best prospects, top on-field performances and greatest moments of the 2026 season, on MLB Network at 8 p.m. ET.
(1) “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. (2) Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. (3) Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, (4) but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. (5) But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. (6) “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ (7) Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. (8) And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ (9) But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ (10) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. (11) “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ (12) But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ (13) “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. New King James VersionChange email Bible version
Knowing that human nature loses heart over time without the help of the Holy Spirit, Jesus understood that His church would need encouragement to be watchful while awaiting His second coming. For this reason, He gave the Parable of the Ten Virgins to some of the twelve disciples just days before His brutal crucifixion. The parable pictures ten virgins waiting for the Bridegroom’s return. However, half of the virgins are unprepared because they lose heart in the face of their uncertainty, and as a result, they do not prepare and persevere to the end.
Jesus gives ample warning in His teaching concerning the last days and the need for spiritual preparation for them. But He also realizes that His church would need spiritual focus while waiting for His return. Therefore, He warns that lack of adequate preparation for His coming can be eternally devastating. Jesus makes the purpose of this parable clear in its last verse. “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (verse 13).
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