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MLB Playoffs 2026: Key Wins in Division Series Openers
Confirmed
In Short: In the National League Division Series (NLDS), the Brewers and Braves secured key wins on Sunday, putting them in strong positions to advance.
The 2026 MLB playoffs kicked off with the four League Division Series (LDS) underway, featuring the White Sox, Dodgers, Rays, and Brewers as Game 1 winners on Saturday.
The Brewers took a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Padres with a walk-off win by Jackson Chourio off Mason Miller.
Meanwhile, the Braves tied their series against the Dodgers with a strong pitching performance, despite the absence of Chris Sale.
The American League Division Series (ALDS) resumes on Monday, with the Guardians and Yankees aiming to even their series.
The 12-team playoff field has been reduced to eight teams after the Astros, Red Sox, Cubs, and Phillies were eliminated in the Wild Card Series last week.
The Padres, who have been playoff contenders since 2020, now face a challenging uphill battle against the Brewers.
The Brewers, who have not been to a World Series since 1982, are now in a strong position to advance.
The Dodgers, despite their recent loss, remain a formidable opponent, having won the World Series in 2020.
The White Sox, under the guidance of Will Venable and with support from Pope Leo XIV, are now facing the Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS.
The playoffs offer a variety of matchups, from small-market showdowns to deep-pocketed behemoths, providing something for every fan to enjoy.
What this adds
The ALDS between the Rays and Yankees is expected to be a closely contested series.
The Padres' playoff run since 2020 has been a source of hope for their fans, but they face a tough challenge against the Brewers.
Background
The 2026 MLB playoffs have kicked off with the four League Division Series underway, featuring the White Sox, Dodgers, Rays, and Brewers as Game 1 winners on Saturday.
MLB experts Jorge Castillo, Bradford Doolittle, Alden Gonzalez, Jeff Passan, and David Schoenfield have analyzed the playoff field, providing odds for every round and highlighting key players.
What's confirmed
- The 2026 MLB playoffs kicked off with the four League Division Series (LDS) underway, featuring the White Sox, Dodgers, Rays, and Brewers as Game 1 winners on Saturday.
- The Brewers took a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Padres with a walk-off win by Jackson Chourio off Mason Miller.
- Meanwhile, the Braves tied their series against the Dodgers with a strong pitching performance, despite the absence of Chris Sale.
- The American League Division Series (ALDS) resumes on Monday, with the Guardians and Yankees aiming to even their series.
- The 12-team playoff field has been reduced to eight teams after the Astros, Red Sox, Cubs, and Phillies were eliminated in the Wild Card Series last week.
- The Padres, who have been playoff contenders since 2020, now face a challenging uphill battle against the Brewers.
- The Brewers, who have not been to a World Series since 1982, are now in a strong position to advance.
- The Dodgers, despite their recent loss, remain a formidable opponent, having won the World Series in 2020.
- The White Sox, under the guidance of Will Venable and with support from Pope Leo XIV, are now facing the Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS.
- The playoffs offer a variety of matchups, from small-market showdowns to deep-pocketed behemoths, providing something for every fan to enjoy.
What's still developing
- Milwaukee now leads the series 2-0 and will have a chance to advance in Game 3 on Tuesday.
- Since the wild-card era began in 1995, the nature of baseball's postseason makes it rare for the top seeds to meet in the World Series.
- Best potential drama: Aside from the whole "This is the World Series that might save baseball for 2027 since it will be harder to argue the Dodgers are ruining baseball if we get this matchup of small-market teams" drama?
- The San Diego Padres haven't won a World Series since joining the NL in 1969 and have been knocking on the door since 2020, making the playoffs five times in seven seasons -- but their fans' suffering is nothing compared to that of the Cleveland Guardians ' fans.
- Since 2018, the Milwaukee Brewers are fourth in the majors in wins and the Tampa Bay Rays sixth, and although they've combined to miss the playoffs just four times in 18 seasons, the only World Series appearance came from Tampa Bay in the shortened 2020 season.
- Tampa enters as the AL’s top seed after a 98‑64 season, while New York arrives hot after sweeping Boston in the Wild Card Series with 9‑0 and 9‑2 wins.
- New York finished 93‑68 and surged late, then dominated Boston in the Wild Card Series.
- The Golden State Valkyries have owned the Dallas Wings all year, and after a 104-80 demolition in Game 1, they head into Game 2 of their first-round WNBA playoff series on September 30 with a chance to close things out.
- MLB – PCA, Cubs meekly exit playoffs after offense disappears in 2-game Wild Card sweep The Chicago team that didn’t have the pope on its side is heading meekly into the offseason.
- White Sox 7, Astros 3 – White Sox pounce early, finish sweep of Astros for first playoff series win since 2005 The Chicago White Sox used a big first inning and a three-run homer from Chase Meidroth to propel them to a 7-3 win over the Houston Astros to sweep their AL Wild Card Series.
- It’s the first time Chicago has won a playoff series since beating Houston in the World Series in 2005.
- New York will face AL East champion Tampa Bay in an AL Division Series starting Saturday.
Sources
- Espnlink
- Sportstalkfloridalink
- Picksandparlayslink
- Wsjmlink
- Sbnationlink
- Andthevalleyshooklink
- Foxsportslink
- CBS Sportslink
- Wnbalink
- Newsweeklink
- USA Todaylink
- WarpBeat — background on 2026 MLB playoff bracket: Schedule, scores, where to watch with Division Series underway link
- WarpBeat — background on MLB Playoffs Preview: World Series Odds and MVP Contenders link