The bracket for the 2026 MLB postseason has been established, and a brand-new World Series victor will be crowned by the end of October. Action kicks off on Tuesday afternoon with four best-of-three Wild Card matchups. The advancing teams from this opening round will progress to the League Division Series, matching up against the top two seeds in each league who earned first-round byes.
Those who triumph in the best-of-five Division Series will advance to the best-of-seven League Championship Series, culminating in the best-of-seven Fall Classic.
Below is the official layout for the postseason tournament:
American League
Opening Round Byes
No. 1 Rays, No. 2 Guardians
Wild Card Matchups
No. 3 Astros vs. No. 6 White Sox
No. 4 Yankees vs. No. 5 Red Sox
National League
Opening Round Byes
No. 1 Brewers, No. 2 Dodgers
Wild Card Matchups
No. 3 Braves vs. No. 6 Phillies
No. 4 Padres vs. No. 5 Cubs
Check out the 2026 playoff projections compiled by our team of CBS Sports baseball writers. We have laid out predictions for every matchup, starting from the Wild Card opener all the way to the World Series finale.
Mike Axisa’s bracket
Adam Eargle, CBS Sports Design
Championship Selection: Dodgers over Yankees
Rationale: I lack absolute confidence in my selections here, so I decided to go with the simple logic of choosing the most talented rosters. Despite playing without Aaron Judge, New York possesses a dangerous enough lineup to win the AL, and their starting rotation is formidable. My main worry is the potential fatigue in their bullpen, though relievers typically rise to the occasion during October baseball. Los Angeles appears more beatable than they have in recent seasons, particularly with Shohei Ohtani playing through obvious physical limitations. However, their starting rotation is elite—featuring Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow—and they have plenty of offensive depth to support Ohtani. Additionally, I anticipate Josue De Paula making a massive splash this postseason. Look for him to secure a spot in the regular lineup and deliver some key plays.
Dayn Perry’s bracket
Adam Eargle, CBS Sports Design
Championship Selection: Brewers over Rays
Rationale: Postseason baseball is notoriously unpredictable, so I rarely make these selections with complete certainty. This year feels particularly chaotic, given the abundance of strong contenders in the NL compared to perhaps only two realistic options in the AL. While Milwaukee’s lack of power hitting makes me hesitate, they boast a highly versatile and deep lineup with an exceptional defense and pitching staff. Los Angeles remains a dangerous threat, but their primary stars are older and more banged up than they were a season ago. Had Aaron Judge been completely healthy and available, I would have backed the Yankees’ strong starting staff to win the AL pennant. With his status compromised, I am projecting Tampa Bay to reach the Fall Classic, setting up a battle of small-market franchises. I like Milwaukee to win in seven games, largely because of their elite bullpen depth.
Matt Snyder’s bracket
Adam Eargle, CBS Sports Design
Championship Selection: Brewers over Rays
Rationale: While the American League field looks underwhelming, Tampa Bay is an outstanding ball club capable of winning their side of the bracket. However, I believe the ultimate champion will emerge from the National League. While the Dodgers are technically the frontrunners, capturing a championship requires immense good fortune, and completing a three-peat is incredibly difficult to pull off. I predict Milwaukee will bounce back from last autumn’s sweep, leveraging that disappointment to fuel a championship run. This October will serve as Jackson Chourio’s national coming-out party, showcasing his talent on baseball’s biggest stage. He will claim the World Series MVP honors as Milwaukee secures their first-ever title.
