2026 MLB playoffs: Schedule, postseason bracket, standings

Entering Sunday's Game 162, there was still one division title and one wild-card spot up for grabs. In the National League, the Phillies won their regular season finale to secure the last wild-card spot. The Astros and Rangers entered their respective games on Sunday tied atop the American League West, with Houston taking home the division title after Texas lost its final game.

The 12-team postseason will kick off with an action-packed wild-card round that starts Tuesday, featuring eight teams battling for four spots to advance to the eight-team division series.

From the first pitch of the wild-card games to the last out of the World Series, we've got you covered with the postseason bracket, schedules, results and how to watch every game this October.

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MLB playoffs preview: World Series odds, likely MVPs and how far every team will go

The 12-team playoff field is set

American League Wild Card Series

Best-of-three series

All times ET

Chicago White Sox at Houston Astros

• Game 1: Tuesday at 5 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN)

• Game 2: Wednesday at 5 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN)

• Game 3*: Thursday at 5 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN)

*if necessary

Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees

• Game 1: Tuesday at 8 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)

• Game 2: Wednesday at 8 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)

• Game 3*: Thursday at 8 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)

*if necessary

National League Wild Card Series

Best-of-three series

All times ET

Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves

• Game 1: Tuesday at 2 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)

• Game 2: Wednesday at 2 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)

• Game 3*: Thursday at 2 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)

*if necessary

Chicago Cubs at San Diego Padres

• Game 1: Tuesday at 10 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN)

• Game 2: Wednesday at 10 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN)

• Game 3*: Thursday at 10 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN)

*if necessary

American League Division Series

Best-of-five series

Cleveland Guardians vs. winner of White Sox/Astros

• Game 1: TBD at Cleveland, Saturday (TBS/HBO Max)

• Game 2: TBD at Cleveland, Monday, Oct. 5 (TBS/HBO Max)

• Game 3: Cleveland at TBD, Wednesday, Oct. 7 (TBS/HBO Max)

• Game 4*: Cleveland at TBD, Thursday, Oct. 8 (TBS/HBO Max)

• Game 5*: TBD at Cleveland, Saturday, Oct. 10 (TBS/HBO Max)

*if necessary

Tampa Bay Rays vs. winner of Red Sox/Yankees

• Game 1: TBD at Tampa Bay, Saturday (TBS/HBO Max)

• Game 2: TBD at Tampa Bay, Monday, Oct. 5 (TBS/HBO Max)

• Game 3: Tampa Bay at TBD, Wednesday, Oct. 7 (TBS/HBO Max)

• Game 4*: Tampa Bay at TBD, Thursday, Oct. 8 (TBS/HBO Max)

• Game 5*: TBD at Tampa Bay, Saturday, Oct. 10 (TBS/HBO Max)

*if necessary

National League Division Series

Best-of-five series

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. winner of Phillies/Braves

• Game 1: TBD at Los Angeles, Saturday (FOX/FS1)

• Game 2: TBD at Los Angeles, Sunday (FOX/FS1)

• Game 3: Los Angeles at TBD, Tuesday, Oct. 6 (FOX/FS1)

• Game 4*: Los Angeles at TBD, Wednesday, Oct. 7 (FOX/FS1)

• Game 5*: TBD at Los Angeles, Friday, Oct. 9 (FOX/FS1)

*if necessary

Milwaukee Brewers vs. winner of Padres/Cubs

• Game 1: TBD at Milwaukee, Saturday (FOX/FS1)

• Game 2: TBD at Milwaukee, Sunday (FOX/FS1)

• Game 3: Milwaukee at TBD, Tuesday, Oct. 6 (FOX/FS1)

• Game 4*: Milwaukee at TBD, Wednesday, Oct. 7 (FOX/FS1)

• Game 5*: TBD at Milwaukee, Friday, Oct. 9 (FOX/FS1)

*if necessary

American League Championship Series

Best-of-seven series

• Game 1: Monday, Oct. 12 (TBS/HBO Max)

• Game 2: Tuesday, Oct. 13 (TBS/HBO Max)

• Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 15 (TBS/HBO Max)

• Game 4: Friday, Oct. 16 (TBS/HBO Max)

• Game 5*: Saturday, Oct. 17 (TBS/HBO Max)

• Game 6*: Monday, Oct. 19 (TBS/HBO Max)

• Game 7*: Tuesday, Oct. 20 (TBS/HBO Max)

*if necessary

National League Championship Series

Best-of-seven series

• Game 1: Sunday, Oct. 11 (FOX/FS1)

• Game 2: Monday, Oct. 12 (FOX/FS1)

• Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 14 (FOX/FS1)

• Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 15 (FOX/FS1)

• Game 5*: Friday, Oct. 16 (FOX/FS1)

• Game 6*: Sunday, Oct. 18 (FOX/FS1)

• Game 7*: Monday, Oct. 19 (FOX/FS1)

*if necessary

World Series

Best-of-seven series

• Game 1: Friday, Oct. 23 (FOX)

• Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 24 (FOX)

• Game 3: Monday, Oct. 26 (FOX)

• Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 27 (FOX)

• Game 5*: Wednesday, Oct. 28 (FOX)

• Game 6*: Friday, Oct. 30 (FOX)

• Game 7*: Saturday, Oct. 31 (FOX)