MLB Playoffs 2026: Scores, schedule, TV, and more

The MLB playoffs are here.

Starting on Tuesday, September 29, 12 teams remain alive in the chase for the World Series. But by the middle of October, only two teams will be left standing.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are chasing an elusive three-peat, as only four teams — and two organizations — have pulled off that accomplishment. The New York Yankees have done this three times (1936-1939, 1949-1953, and 1998-2000), while the Athletics pulled off a three-peat from 1972 through 1974.

If the Dodgers join this exclusive club, they would be the only National League team to pull off a three-peat.

Here is the MLB Playoff Bracket, as well as the times for every game leading up to the ALCS and NLCS.

MLB Playoff Bracket

Here is the playoff bracket for the 2026 MLB Playoffs. You will see that the Tampa Bay Rays secured the top seed in the American League and have a bye, as do the Cleveland Guardians as the No. 2 seed. Tampa Bay will face the winner of the Wild Card Series between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, while the Guardians will take on the winner of the series between the Houston Astros and the Chicago White Sox.

In the National League the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers are the top seeds, and will wait on the wild card winners. The Brewers will face the winner of the series between the Chicago Cubs and the San Diego Padres, while the Dodgers will take on the winner of the series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves.

Bracket courtesy of MLB.com:

National League schedule and scores

Here is the schedule for the National League playoffs. All times listed are Eastern.

Scores will be updated as games go final.

Wild Card: Phillies vs. Braves

Game 1: Braves 5, Phillies 3 (Braves lead series 1-0)
Game 2: Phillies at Braves, Wednesday, September 30, 2:00 p.m., NBC
Game 3: Phillies at Braves, Thursday, October 1, 2:00 p.m., NBC*

Wild Card: Cubs vs. Padres

Game 1: Cubs at Padres, Tuesday, September 29, 10:00 p.m., Peacock
Game 2: Cubs at Padres, Wednesday, September 30, 10:00 p.m., Peacock
Game 3: Cubs at Padres, Thursday, October 1, 10:00 p.m., Peacock*

NLDS: Cubs/Padres vs. Brewers

Game 1: Cubs/Padres at Brewers, Saturday, October 3, TBD, FOX or FS1
Game 2: Cubs/Padres at Brewers, Sunday, October 4, TBD, FOX or FS1
Game 3: Brewers at Cubs/Padres, Tuesday, October 6, TBD, FOX or FS1
Game 4: Brewers at Cubs/Padres, Wednesday, October 7, TBD, FOX or FS1*
Game 5: Cubs/Padres at Brewers, Friday, October 9, TBD, FOX or FS1*

NLDS: Phillies/Braves vs. Dodgers

Game 1: Phillies/Braves at Dodgers, Saturday, October 3, TBD, FOX or FS1
Game 2: Phillies/Braves at Dodgers, Sunday, October 4, TBD, FOX or FS1
Game 3: Dodgers at Phillies/Braves, Tuesday, October 6, TBD, FOX or FS1
Game 4: Dodgers at Phillies/Braves, Wednesday, October 7, TBD, FOX or FS1*
Game 5: Phillies/Braves at Dodgers, Friday, October 9, TBD, FOX or FS1*

NLCS

Game 1: NL Lower Seed at NL Higher Seed, Sunday, October 11, TBD, FOX or FS1
Game 2: NL Lower Seed at NL Higher Seed, Monday, October 12, TBD, FOX or FS1
Game 3: NL Higher Seed at NL Lower Seed, Wednesday, October 14, TBD, FOX or FS1
Game 4: NL Higher Seed at NL Lower Seed, Thursday, October 15, TBD, FOX or FS1
Game 5: NL Higher Seed at NL Lower Seed, Friday, October 16, TBD, FOX or FS1*
Game 6: NL Lower Seed at NL Higher Seed, Sunday, October 18, TBD, FOX or FS1*
Game 7: NL Lower Seed at NL Higher Seed, Monday, October 19, TBD, FOX or FS1*

* If necessary

American League schedule and scores

Here is the schedule for the playoffs on the American League side of things. All times listed are Eastern.

Wild Card: White Sox vs. Astros

Game 1: White Sox at Astros, Tuesday, September 29, 5:00 p.m., Peacock
Game 2: White Sox at Astros, Wednesday, September 30, 5:00 p.m., Peacock
Game 3: White Sox at Astros, Thursday, October 1, 5:00 p.m., Peacock*

Wild Card: Red Sox vs. Yankees

Game 1: Red Sox at Yankees, Tuesday, September 29, 8:00 p.m., NBC
Game 2: Red Sox at Yankees, Wednesday, September 30, 8:00 p.m., NBC
Game 3: Red Sox at Yankees, Thursday, October 1, 8:00 p.m., NBC*

ALDS: Red Sox/Yankees vs. Rays

Game 1: Red Sox/Yankees at Rays, Saturday, October 3, TBD, TBS
Game 2: Red Sox/Yankees at Rays, Monday, October 5, TBD, TBS
Game 3: Rays at Red Sox/Yankees, Wednesday, October 7, TBD, TBS
Game 4: Rays at Red Sox/Yankees, Thursday, October 8, TBD, TBS*
Game 5: Red Sox/Yankees at Rays, Saturday, October 10, TBD, TBS*

ALDS: White Sox/Astros vs. Guardians

Game 1: White Sox/Astros at Guardians, Saturday, October 3, TBD, TBS
Game 2: White Sox/Astros at Guardians, Monday, October 5, TBD, TBS
Game 3: Guardians at White Sox/Astros, Wednesday, October 7, TBD, TBS
Game 4: Guardians at White Sox/Astros, Thursday, October 8, TBD, TBS*
Game 5: White Sox/Astros at Guardians, Saturday, October 10, TBD, TBS*

ALCS

Game 1: AL Lower Seed at AL Higher Seed, Monday, October 12, TBD, TBS
Game 2: AL Lower Seed at AL Higher Seed, Tuesday, October 13, TBD, TBS
Game 3: AL Higher Seed at AL Lower Seed, Thursday, October 15, TBD, TBS
Game 4: AL Higher Seed at AL Lower Seed, Friday, October 16, TBD, TBS
Game 5: AL Higher Seed at AL Lower Seed, Saturday, October 17, TBD, TBS*
Game 6: AL Lower Seed at AL Higher Seed, Monday, October 19, TBD, TBS*
Game 7: AL Lower Seed at AL Higher Seed, Tuesday, October 20, TBD, TBS*

World Series schedule

Here is the schedule for the World Series:

Game 1: Lower Seed at Higher Seed, Friday, October 23, TBD, FOX
Game 2: Lower Seed at Higher Seed, Saturday, October 24, TBD, FOX
Game 3: Higher Seed at Lower Seed, Monday, October 26, TBD, FOX
Game 4: Higher Seed at Lower Seed, Tuesday, October 27, TBD, FOX
Game 5: Higher Seed at Lower Seed, Wednesday, October 28, TBD, FOX*
Game 6: Lower Seed at Higher Seed, Friday, October 30, TBD, FOX*
Game 7: Lower Seed at Higher Seed, Saturday, October 31, TBD, FOX*