New-Look MLB Playoff Field Is Now Set
A wild and wet Sunday completed the 2026 regular season.
The 2026 MLB playoffs have unveiled a new format featuring a mix of top-tier teams, underdogs, and the league's embattled club. Houston Astros clinched the AL West title on the final day of the season, boasting an 81-81 record - the inaugural playoff team without a winning tally. This surpasses the Padres' 2005 postseason entry with an 82-80 record.
Despite their middling performance, the Astros will face the Chicago White Sox in the Wild Card series. Chicago returns to postseason contention after three consecutive 100-loss seasons and a 41-121 record in 2024, the worst modern MLB performance. The Phillies secured their tenth playoff berth, averting disaster after a September slump, and will host Atlanta Braves in the first round, commencing Tuesday.
Philadelphia joins Atlanta in the playoffs for the seventh time, with the highlight being the Yankees vs. Red Sox rematch. New York manager Aaron Boone indicated Aaron Judge might miss the series due to a calf strain, though the player insists he intends to compete. The Cubs will travel to San Diego to face the Padres, the latter returning to the postseason after three straight and four in five years under new ownership.
The Rays, with an AL-best first-round bye, will host Tampa Bay, who also secure a first-round bye as the second seed. The Yankees, Red Sox, and Astros form the top trio in the fixed postseason bracket, while the Brewers and Dodgers receive first-round byes in the NL. NBC Sports and Peacock hold exclusive rights to the Wild Card round.
Unfortunate weather conditions, including a nor'easter storm and wet conditions in New York and Washington, disrupted MLB's schedule, resulting in game rescheduling or postponement.
Written by urgent.news from Front Office Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
