The field for the 2026 MLB playoffs is set and by Halloween we will have a new World Series champion. The Wild Card Series begins Tuesday afternoon with four best-of-three matchups. From there, these four winners will advance to the League Division Series, where the top two teams from each league will join the mix after a first-round bye.
The winners of the best-of-five divisions advance to the best-of-seven championship leagues and, of course, the best-of-seven World Series.
Here’s a look at how the playoffs played out:
American League
First round exclusions
Rays No. 1, goalkeepers No. 2
Wild Card Series
No. 3 Astros vs. No. 6 White Sox
No. 4 Yankees vs. No. 5 Red Sox
National League
First round exclusions
No. 1 Brewers, No. 2 Dodgers
Wild Card Series
No. 3 Braves vs. No. 6 Phillies
No. 4 Padres vs. No. 5 Cubs
And now, here are our team picks for the 2026 playoffs from your CBS Sports MLB editors. We predict every round of the bracket, from the Wild Card Series to the World Series.
Support from Mike Axisa
Adam Eargle, CBS Sports Design
World Series picks: The Dodgers vs. the Yankees
Explanation: I’m not attached to my category at all, so I stick to the “just pick the ones you think are the best teams, stupid” approach. Even without Aaron Judge, the Yankees have enough firepower to make it out of the American League, and their pitching is terrific. My only concern is an overworked bullpen, but guys always seem to find extra equipment in the postseason. The Dodgers are more vulnerable than the last two years, I think, especially since Shohei Ohtani is clearly not 100% physically (or close to it). This rotation is so good though – Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are about as good as it gets – and there are enough of them on offense to get Ohtani back. I have a feeling Josue De Paula is going to play a huge role in October. He will eventually work his way into the everyday team and make a big impact.
Support from Dayn Perry
Adam Eargle, CBS Sports Design
World Series picks: Brewers on the shelves
Explanation: I never predict the MLB playoffs with much conviction because there is so much chance involved. That’s especially the case this year because the NL has many World Series-worthy players and the AL has at most two. I’m tempted to write off the Brewers for their lack of power, but I think they have the most complete and balanced roster and are particularly good on the run prevention front. The Dodgers are still very good, obviously, but their core looks a little older and a little more injured than this time last year. If Aaron Judge was 100% ready for the playoffs and 100% healthy, I would pick the Yankees and their loaded rotation to come out of the AL. Since that’s not the case, I’m going to pick the Rays to make it an entirely small-market World Series. Brewers on seven thanks in part to their superior bullpen depth.
Support from Matt Snyder
Adam Eargle, CBS Sports Design
World Series picks: Brewers on the shelves
Explanation: The AL is weak, but the Rays are legitimately a great team and pass the competition in that regard. That said, an NL team wins everything this season. The Dodgers remain the team most likely to win the World Series, but so many things have to break to win the World Series and there’s a reason we very rarely see a triple. I will say the Brewers are getting the job done after getting swept last year and carrying that momentum into a World Series win. Jackson Chourio is having a national playoff night and showing up under the brightest lights. He wins the World Series MVP and the Brewers hang their very first banner.
Gn sports
