The 2026 MLB playoffs are down to eight teams, and the four teams that earned byes are ready to join the party. The League Division Series begins Saturday with the Yankees vs. Rays, White Sox vs. Guardians, Padres vs. Brewers and Braves vs. Dodgers.
As such, your CBS Sports MLB experts are here to predict how each of the best-of-five series will play out.
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Below you’ll find our MLB editors’ picks for each division series in the league, along with the odds for each series from DraftKings.
White Sox vs. Keepers
(Series odds: White Sox +120, Guardians -140)
Axisa: What a great draw for Cleveland as the #2 seed. They earned a Wild Card Series bye and will face a White Sox team that is pushing the limits of its pitching depth. Parker Messick and Gavin Williams are a very solid top two and the bullpen is also excellent. Will they score points? That’s always the question with Guardians. I think they’ll be able to muster enough offense against a tired White Sox staff and win three closer games than my sweep prediction suggests. Take: Goalkeepers in 3
McWilliams: Give me the trouble. Cleveland has the pitching to make things difficult, but Chicago has the power to change a game with one swing. These teams know each other extremely well and I expect another close series. I’m counting on Chicago’s offense to make the difference. Pick: White Sox in 5
Pear: A difficult decision, as these clubs currently seem tied. Power tends to rule in the postseason, and the White Sox have more of it. During the regular season, the Sox ranked fifth in MLB with 211 home runs, while the Guards were 27th with 162. For what it’s worth, Chicago beat them in away games as well. The power gap will make the difference in this one. Take: White Sox in 5
Snider: I’m buying the White Sox vibes here against the Guardians’ solid pitching staff. I don’t buy the Guardians’ offense. The White Sox’s power will carry them while they are able to find just enough pitches, especially with this deep bullpen. Casual fans can continue to get acquainted with Hagen Smith and Grant Taylor, who are worth getting to know. Take: White Sox in 4
Braves vs. Dodgers
(Series odds: Braves +190, Dodgers -230)
Axisa: The Braves are tired and undermanned, and the Dodgers are rested and healthy. The Dodgers’ rotation appears to be a huge advantage here, especially after Chris Sale came out of the bullpen in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series and may be experiencing some fatigue in his start in Game 2. To me, the Dodgers have the better rotation and offense, and that’s usually enough to win you a series. Take: Dodgers in 4
McWilliams: Atlanta certainly has the talent to make this interesting, but Los Angeles has an imposing rotation and considerable offensive firepower. That’s a tough combination to overcome in a short series, especially if the Dodgers’ starters showcase their abilities. Pick: Dodgers in 4
Pear: The Dodgers are once again a powerhouse, even if the roster is aging in spots. Their rotation currently features four healthy aces, and Shohei Ohtani was able to return to the lineup at the end of the regular season. Additionally, the Braves have a thin rotation and their bullpen worked hard in the Wild Card Series win over the Phillies. Take: Dodgers in 4
Snider: The Braves’ pitching situation is troubling after having to empty the Wild Card Series tank just to get to Dodger Stadium. You have to do what it takes to move forward, but they’re in a really tough spot heading into the Dodgers. Said Dodgers have a perfectly healthy rotation of aces or ace-capable pitchers, a better offense and are about to drop the proverbial hammer. Take: Dodgers in 3
Yankees vs. Rays
(Series odds: Yankees -120, Rays +100)
Axisa: I think the Yankees are the most dangerous AL team in a short series because they have so many pitches and they have both power and speed on offense. My only concern is that they will do something stupid defensively, something the Rays can force and take advantage of. Otherwise, the Yankees simply never put a bad pitcher on the mound, and this is a deep lineup even if Aaron Judge is unavailable/compromised. The Rays are very good, and it looks like they’ve put Freddy Peralta on the right track, giving them a 1-2 punch with Drew Rasmussen who can match New York’s. I just like the Yankees roster from top to bottom, so they’re my pick. Take: Yankees in 4
McWilliams: The Yankees have enough starting pitchers to win this series. Tampa Bay’s rotation is formidable and their lineup presents serious threats. But New York has the pitching depth and offensive firepower to advance. I expect a competitive series. Pick: Yankees in 5
Pear: Man, they really should be ranked based on their records, because these two teams – the only two really good teams in the AL this season – don’t have a business meeting this early. Regardless, I will say that the Yankees rotation is the difference in this one. They would win thanks to two ace-level efforts from Cam Schlittler. Take: Yankees in 5
Snider: Despite the regular season record, the Yankees look better on paper right now, especially if Aaron Judge returns and makes an impact. The problem with the Rays this season is that they have played way above what the roster looks like on paper. Besides, it looks pretty good anyway. The rotation with a revamped Freddy Peralta looks solid and the offense has some depth with Junior Caminero the best hitter in the series (unless Judge comes out like his best self, which seems unlikely). Take: Rays in 5
Padres vs. Brewers
(Series odds: Padres +150, Brewers -180)
Axisa: The Padres have been one of the two or three best teams in baseball over the past three months. I do, however, have concerns about their rotation behind Michael King, concerns that I don’t think the super bullpen can completely hide. Milwaukee has the weapons to control San Diego’s high-powered offense. Similar to what I said about the Yankees, the Brewers simply never put a bad pitcher on the mound. I still worry about their lack of playoff power, but I think there’s enough juice in the bats to pull out a Game 5 win against the Padres. Take: Brewers in 5
McWilliams: This might be the most intriguing matchup of the Division Series. Milwaukee has the pitching to make things interesting, but San Diego counters with a dangerous offense and a bullpen capable of shortening games. I like the Padres’ combination of power and late-inning pitching. Pick: Padres in 5
Pear: The Padres have reached another level lately, and their best-in-class bullpen is a real weapon in the postseason. The Brewers, however, are the best team in baseball, and their superior rotation depth and overall roster depth will be the deciding factor. Take: Brewers in 5
Snider: The Padres are so hot right now and the two-game Wild Card Series sweep was more of a party at Petco than a challenge for the players. I’m tempted to go with them and I won’t be surprised if they win this match, following the hot hand theory. Of course, the Brewers were my World Series champion pick for weeks and finished the season hot themselves, having won 15 of their last 18 with a +46 run differential. I won’t abandon them now. Take: Brewers in 5
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