The 2026 Major League Baseball regular season has officially wrapped, cementing the 12-team postseason bracket. As the quest for the Commissioner’s Trophy begins, the league landscape features both perennial powerhouses and unexpected success stories.
Division winners claiming first-round byes into the Division Series include the Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays, and Cleveland Guardians. Joining them in the playoff hunt are the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros, who also captured division titles, while the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Diego Padres earned their spots via the wild card route.
The Los Angeles Dodgers seek a historic three-peat, though their campaign faced mid-season turbulence. After a strong start, the team stalled around the All-Star break, compounded by injury issues that limited pitching options, including those involving four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani. Nevertheless, they regained momentum in September, winning 18 of their final 23 games. With Mookie Betts, Kyle Tucker, and Teoscar Hernández fueling the offense and two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal anchoring the mound, they remain a top threat. The Cubs have scored at least five runs in 85 games and their red-hot offense is backed up by a strong defense.
The Milwaukee Brewers enter the postseason fresh off the best season in franchise history, leading the league with 103 wins. Behind NL Cy Young favorite Jacob Misiorowski, the Brewers are aiming to break their World Series drought, though they must overcome a recent history of struggles in high-pressure, do-or-die scenarios.
The Tampa Bay Rays defied expectations to win the AL East. Despite entering the year as underdogs behind big-market rivals, consistent play and individual breakout performances, such as those from star Junior Caminero, have solidified their status as a dangerous postseason opponent.
Atlanta’s season was defined by a dominant first half, posting a 40-20 record by the end of May. Although they slowed down thereafter with a 54-48 record, they managed to lead their division for 170 consecutive days to clinch the NL East. While they boast a top-tier rotation, their success will depend on an offensive resurgence during their opening series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The New York Yankees navigated a difficult season marked by injuries to captain Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and several rotation arms. While Judge is unlikely to participate in the AL Wild Card series against the Boston Red Sox, the team looks to an elite pitching staff—led by Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, and AL Cy Young favorite Cam Schlittler—to carry the load, with help from AL MVP contender Ben Rice.
Boston’s turnaround was one of the year’s most notable stories. After a difficult start that saw manager Alex Cora fired in April, the team went on an incredible run, finishing the season with an MLB-best 55-29 record from June 25 onward. Despite a late-season cooling off, their pitching depth gives them a fighting chance against New York. However, the Red Sox went on a remarkable 15-game winning run after his departure.
The Chicago Cubs arrive as perhaps the most explosive offensive unit, having led the league in run production during the regular season, with outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong leading the charge. While their high-scoring capacity is clear, the team must address a starting rotation that finished the year with a 4.27 ERA to survive a deep run. However, there are big question marks over their starting rotation, which ranked 18th with a 4.27 ERA in 2026 (via StatMuse).
The San Diego Padres are peaking at the right time, having gone 41-18 since July 24 to secure their spot. Led by the power-hitting duo of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill, who combined for 36 home runs post-All-Star break, the Padres possess significant offensive momentum but face questions regarding their rotation depth.
The Philadelphia Phillies enter after a narrow victory in the race for the final NL wild card. Their path is complicated by the fact that starters Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sánchez will not be available on normal rest for the series against Atlanta.
The Cleveland Guardians secured their third consecutive AL Central title, relying on the pitching mastery of Gavin Williams, Parker Messick, and saves leader Cade Smith. To succeed, they will need slugger José RamÃrez to drive an offense that ranks among the quieter units in the field.
Perhaps the biggest surprise, the Chicago White Sox earned a wild card spot after enduring three consecutive seasons of 100-plus losses, including a historically poor 2024 campaign. Led by big offensive years from Munetaka Murakami, Miguel Vargas, and Colson Montgomery, the White Sox topped the American League in total scoring. Munetaka Murakami, Miguel Vargas, and Colson Montgomery eclipsed 30+ home runs each as the White Sox led the American League in scoring.
Finally, the Houston Astros made history by becoming the first team to qualify for the playoffs with a non-winning record of 81-81. Despite their regular-season challenges, their immense experience is a factor, as they appear in the postseason for the 10th time in 12 years, bolstered by an offense that hit 32 home runs in their final 13 games. We rank their World Series chances, with the 12 teams set for their postseason journey. The Astros became the first team to qualify for the postseason despite a non-winning (81-81) record in a complete 162-game season.
