By Fazil Dawoodani
The MLB postseason is finally upon us! After 2,430 games played by 30 teams, 12 of them remain with a chance to win the World Series. From the 103-win Milwaukee Brewers to the .500 Houston Astros, every team had a different path to October. Here is a look at each playoff team, how they made it, one star to watch, and what could determine their postseason fate.
American League
Tampa Bay Rays (98-64)
The Rays won the AL East after one of the biggest turnarounds in baseball. After finishing below .500 in each of the previous two seasons, Tampa Bay went 22-4 between April 22 and May 22 and held onto first place after June 28. Junior Caminero is the star to watch after emerging as one of the league’s most dangerous young hitters. With a first-round bye, Tampa Bay will have well-rested pitching on its side.
Cleveland Guardians (85-77)
Cleveland won the AL Central by catching fire at exactly the right time. After sitting at 61-66 in August, the Guardians won seven straight and continued their strong play through September. Third baseman José RamÃrez remains the centerpiece of the lineup, while Cleveland’s ability to manufacture runs and get timely pitching will be critical against a difficult AL field.
Houston Astros (81-81)
The Astros are arguably the strangest playoff team of 2026. Houston won the AL West despite finishing exactly .500, becoming the first team to ever make the playoffs (in a full 162-game season) with a record no better than .500. Yordan Alvarez powered the late-season surge and is the player opponents will have to contain. The Astros also bring a wealth of postseason experience, but the big question is whether this is enough to overcome an inconsistent regular season.
New York Yankees (93-68)
The Yankees survived a difficult season to claim the top AL Wild Card spot. Injuries, including a lengthy absence for Aaron Judge, forced New York to fight through adversity, but the Bronx Bombers remained above water and secured another appearance for October. Judge is obviously the player to watch after returning in September. Their Wild Card series against Boston gives them almost no margin for error.
Boston Red Sox (87-75)
Boston’s season began disastrously at 2-8, eventually leading to the dismissal of manager Alex Cora and five members of his coaching staff. The Red Sox responded with a franchise-record-tying 15-game winning streak in July and went 40-26 in the second half. Willson Contreras is one of the team’s key offensive pieces, while Sonny Gray anchors the pitching staff. Now their biggest challenge is facing the Yankees in the Bronx.
Chicago White Sox (84-78)
The White Sox are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2021 after overcoming a difficult start and making a late push. They now face the Houston Astros, a division champion with a worse record but considerably more postseason experience, as we mentioned earlier. Expect Munetaka Murakami to headline an offensive push from Chicago. Their ability to take advantage of its opportunities will be crucial. The White Sox cannot afford to let Houston’s experience dictate the series.
National League
Milwaukee Brewers (103-59)
The Brewers finished with baseball’s best record and secured the NL’s top seed. Milwaukee has continued a remarkable run of success, reaching the postseason eight times in the last nine seasons. Jackson Chourio is the young star leading the next generation of Brewers baseball, while the team’s pitching depth gives it an important advantage. The question now is whether Milwaukee can finally turn regular season dominance into a World Series appearance.
Los Angeles Dodgers (100-62)
The defending World Series champions are back after winning 100 games and capturing their 13th NL West title in the last 14 seasons. Los Angeles has made the playoffs for the 14th consecutive year, tying the record for the longest postseason streak in MLB history. Shohei Ohtani remains the obvious star, and the Dodgers’ combination of star power and postseason experience make them one of October’s biggest storylines.
Atlanta Braves (94-68)
Atlanta led the NL East nearly the entire season, taking first place in April and never looking back. The Braves finished 45-21 at one point during the season, while weathering injuries to key players, including Ronald Acuña Jr. Acuña is the obvious player to watch if healthy, while Chris Sale provides veteran experience on the mound. Atlanta’s biggest test now is coming against Philadelphia.
San Diego Padres (91-71)
San Diego is making its third consecutive postseason appearance, the first time in franchise history that this has happened. The Padres have become a consistent October team, but they are still looking for their first World Series championship. Right fielder Fernando TatÃs Jr. is expected to lead the charge against the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card Series. Their star-studded roster gives them plenty of offensive firepower, but Chicago’s balanced roster could make this a difficult opening round.
Chicago Cubs (89-73)
The Cubs return to the playoffs after an 89-win season and face San Diego on the road. Chicago’s offense has plenty of power and athleticism, led by Pete Crow-Armstrong, who produced a remarkable 40 home-run, 40 stolen-base season. The Cubs will need that production to continue in October. Winning on the road against a Padres team with postseason experience will be their biggest challenge.
Philadelphia Phillies (88-74)
Philadelphia secured the final NL playoff spot on the last day of the regular season, defeating Tampa Bay to hold off Arizona. Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber headline an experienced lineup, while Cristopher Sánchez leads the pitching staff. The Phillies face Atlanta in the Wild Card Series, meaning they will immediately have to deal with a division rival that led the NL East for most of the season.
My Predictions
Now that all 12 teams have been explained, here is how I see October playing out:
Wild Card Series
White Sox over Astros
Red Sox over Yankees
Braves over Phillies
Cubs over Padres
Division Series
Guardians over White Sox
Red Sox over Rays
Dodgers over Braves
Brewers over Cubs
Championship Series
Red Sox over Guardians
Dodgers over Brewers
World Series
Dodgers over Red Sox
(The perfect catalyst for a 2027 MLB lockout?)