As the final month of the MLB regular season begins, some teams are already thinking about October while others gear up for the pennant races ahead.
The Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs all have National League playoff spots seemingly locked up. Likewise, the Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are well on their way to October appearances in the American League.
Beyond those top teams, there are many storylines to watch down the stretch: Where do current playoff matchups stand? What games should you be watching each day leading up to October? Who will clinch the first postseason berth? And what does the playoff schedule look like?
Here’s everything you need to know as the regular season hits the homestretch.
Key links: Standings | Wild-card standings | Strength of schedule
Jump to: Bracket | Next to clinch | AL odds | NL odds | Key games
What are the current MLB playoff matchups?
American League
Wild-card round: (6) Guardians at (3) Astros, (5) Red Sox at (4) Yankees
ALDS: Guardians/Astros vs. (2) White Sox, Red Sox/Yankees vs. (1) Rays
National League
Wild-card round: (6) Padres at (3) Braves, (5) Cubs at (4) Phillies
NLDS: Padres/Braves vs. (2) Dodgers, Cubs/Phillies vs. (1) Brewers
Who can clinch a playoff spot next?
The Brewers, Dodgers, Braves, Cubs, Rays and Yankees all have at least a 99% chance of making the playoffs entering the final month of the season.
Breaking down the AL race
The Rays, Yankees and Red Sox are battling for the AL East crown with all three very likely to be playing in October. The Chicago White Sox are trying to hold off the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central, and the Houston Astros, Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners are all part of a muddled AL West and wild-card picture.
And what about when these teams get to the postseason? Here’s what their chances are for every round:
Breaking down the NL race
The Brewers, Dodgers and Braves all have comfortable division leads, so the NL intrigue will likely come in the wild-card races. The Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies have started to separate themselves there, with the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks among those battling for a spot.
And what about when these teams get to the playoffs? Here’s what their chances are for every round:
Games to watch
Looking for something to watch today? Here are the playoff implications of every MLB matchup
Playoff schedule
Here’s the 2026 MLB postseason schedule, from the wild-card round through the World Series.
Wild-card series
Best of three
Tuesday, Sept. 29
ALWC A, Game 1
ALWC B, Game 1
NLWC A, Game 1
NLWC B, Game 1
Wednesday, Sept. 30
ALWC A, Game 2
ALWC B, Game 2
NLWC A, Game 2
NLWC B, Game 2
Thursday, Oct. 1
ALWC A, Game 3 *
ALWC B, Game 3 *
NLWC A, Game 3 *
NLWC B, Game 3 *
* If necessary
Division series
Best of five
Saturday, Oct. 3
ALDS A, Game 1
ALDS B, Game 1
NLDS A, Game 1
NLDS B, Game 1
Sunday, Oct. 4
NLDS A, Game 2
NLDS B, Game 2
Monday, Oct. 5
ALDS A, Game 2
ALDS B, Game 2
Tuesday, Oct. 6
NLDS A, Game 3
NLDS B, Game 3
Wednesday, Oct. 7
ALDS A, Game 3
ALDS B, Game 3
NLDS A, Game 4*
NLDS B, Game 4*
Thursday, Oct. 8
ALDS A, Game 4*
ALDS B, Game 4*
Friday, Oct. 9
NLDS A, Game 5*
NLDS B, Game 5*
Saturday, Oct. 10
ALDS A, Game 5*
ALDS B, Game 5*
* If necessary
League championship series
Best of seven
Sunday, Oct. 11
NLCS Game 1
Monday, Oct. 12
ALCS Game 1
NLCS Game 2
Tuesday, Oct. 13
ALCS Game 2
Wednesday, Oct. 14
NLCS Game 3
Thursday, Oct. 15
ALCS Game 3
NLCS Game 4
Friday, Oct. 16
ALCS Game 4
NLCS Game 5*
Saturday, Oct. 17
ALCS Game 5*
Sunday, Oct. 18
NLCS Game 6*
Monday, Oct. 19
ALCS Game 6*
NLCS Game 7*
Tuesday, Oct. 20
ALCS Game 7*
* If necessary
World Series
Best of seven
Game 1: Friday, Oct. 23
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 24
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 26
Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 27
Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 28*
Game 6: Friday, Oct. 30*
Game 7: Saturday, Oct. 31*
* If necessary
