2026 baseball playoffs: Predictions and how to watch
The 2026 MLB playoffs are underway with 12 teams chasing a World Series title, and ESPN's 24 baseball experts overwhelmingly favor the Milwaukee Brewers to win it all. Wild Card Series games stream on Peacock, NBC, and NBCSN this week, with division byes locked in for the Rays, Guardians, Brewers, and Dodgers.
Key Takeaways
- ESPN's panel picked the Brewers (14 of 24 votes) to win the World Series, ahead of the Dodgers (6) and Rays (4).
- Wild Card Series openers air Tuesday–Thursday on Peacock, NBC, and NBCSN; ALDS moves to TBS/HBO Max and NLDS to Fox/FS1.
- Voters lean Yankees, Braves, White Sox, and Padres in the wild card, then Rays and Brewers for the pennants.
- The Brewers (103 wins) and Dodgers (100) host NLDS Game 1s on Saturday after first-round byes.
October baseball is back. According to ESPN's round-by-round survey, Milwaukee is the popular pick to end its title drought, while Los Angeles still hunts a National League three-peat. For kickoff times and channels, keep our Streaming & TV Alerts hub handy.
Who do the experts pick to win each round?
In the AL wild card, ESPN voters edged the White Sox over the Astros (13–11) and strongly favored the Yankees over the Red Sox (18–6). In the NL, the Braves topped the Phillies (18–6) and the Padres beat the Cubs (17–7).
With byes, Cleveland (19 votes) and Tampa Bay (18) were clear ALDS favorites. Los Angeles was nearly unanimous in its NLDS (23 votes), and Milwaukee dominated its bracket (22). The panel then projected Rays and Brewers pennants, with Milwaukee leading World Series votes.
Where can you watch the 2026 baseball playoffs?
CBS Sports reports Wild Card Game 1s began Tuesday: Braves hosted Phillies (Atlanta won 5–3), White Sox at Astros (5 p.m., Peacock/NBCSN), Red Sox at Yankees (8 p.m., NBC), and Cubs at Padres (10 p.m., Peacock/NBCSN). Games 2 and optional Games 3 follow Wednesday and Thursday on the same windows.
Division Series coverage starts Saturday, Oct. 3—ALDS on TBS, truTV, and HBO Max; NLDS on Fox, FS1, and Fox Deportes. The World Series opens Friday, Oct. 23 on Fox.
Why are the Brewers the baseball favorite over the Dodgers?
Milwaukee finished with a franchise-record 103 wins and, per ESPN voters, looks more complete than last year's club that was swept by L.A. in the NLCS. Analysts cite improved pitching from Jacob Misiorowski and Logan Henderson plus a surging lineup.
Yahoo Sports' power rankings still rate both the Brewers and Dodgers among the field's top contenders. Dodgers skeptics point to age, Shohei Ohtani's health questions, and bullpen concerns—yet six ESPN voters still back a three-peat after L.A.'s 100-win season and ace-heavy rotation of Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow.
Short series can flip any script. Watch the wild-card results first—they decide who faces the Rays, Guardians, Brewers, and Dodgers next.