MLB playoff field is set — Wild Card Series open Tuesday
The regular season ended Sunday with the Phillies and Astros clinching the last spots that mattered. All four Wild Card Series begin Tuesday, Sept. 29.
What we know: The 2026 MLB regular season wrapped Sunday, Sept. 27, and the 12-team postseason field is locked. Wild Card Series open Tuesday, Sept. 29, Yahoo Sports and CBS Sports reported.
Sunday’s clinches: The Phillies beat the Rays to clinch the third National League wild card and the No. 6 seed, eliminating the Diamondbacks, Yahoo Sports reported. The Astros won the AL West and the No. 3 seed after the Rangers lost to the Twins; Houston also beat the A’s on Sunday. The Rangers were eliminated.
American League seeds: (1) Tampa Bay Rays 98-64; (2) Cleveland Guardians 85-77; (3) Houston Astros 81-81; (4) New York Yankees 93-68*; (5) Boston Red Sox 87-75; (6) Chicago White Sox 84-78. The Yankees’ final game against Baltimore was canceled for weather, Yahoo Sports noted.
National League seeds: (1) Milwaukee Brewers 103-59; (2) Los Angeles Dodgers 100-62; (3) Atlanta Braves 94-68; (4) San Diego Padres 91-71; (5) Chicago Cubs 89-73; (6) Philadelphia Phillies 88-74.
Wild Card Game 1 (Tuesday): Phillies at Braves, 2 p.m. ET; White Sox at Astros, 5 p.m.; Red Sox at Yankees, 8 p.m.; Cubs at Padres, 10 p.m. — on NBC, Peacock, and NBCSN, per Yahoo Sports. The Rays, Guardians, Brewers, and Dodgers have byes into the Division Series.
What this means: October starts with four best-of-three series and four clubs already waiting in the Division Series. For the White Sox, a playoff berth after recent 100-loss seasons is already a story; for the Phillies, hanging onto the last NL wild card sets up an immediate road test in Atlanta.