MLB Playoffs 2026: Wild-Card Series Schedule, Scores, Date, Times, TV, Stream

2026 MLB Playoff schedule: Wild Card dates, game times, How to watch, TV channels, Live Streaming Online.

The 2026 MLB Wild Card matchups are officially set to kick off a highly anticipated postseason, bringing intense drama and historic rivalries to a best-of-three opening round. 

In the American League, the headlining matchup features the top wild card seed New York Yankees hosting their division rivals, the Boston Red Sox, at Yankee Stadium, while the Chicago White Sox travel to take on the Houston Astros. 

Over in the National League, the wild card race came down to the final day of the regular season, with the Philadelphia Phillies narrowly securing the final spot to set up an NL East showdown on the road against the Atlanta Braves. 

Rounding out the National League bracket, the San Diego Padres will play host to the Chicago Cubs. The winners of these action-packed series will advance to face the top-seeded division champions who earned first-round byes—the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers in the NL, and the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians in the AL...

Here’s the full 2026 MLB playoff schedule:

What is the format for the Wild Card Series?

The Wild Card Series is a best-of-three format. The lowest-seeded division winner (with the worst record of the three division winners) will face off against the lowest-seeded Wild Card team. The other Wild Card Series will consist of the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds. All games will take place at the site of the highest-seeded team.

2026 MLB Wild Card Series Schedule, Scores, Dates, times, results for AL & NL matchups.

(Best-of-three)

The four Wild Card Series concluded on Sept. 29, with four teams advancing to the Division Series. Each series was hosted at the higher seed.

American League

Houston vs. Chicago White Sox

Tuesday, Sept. 29: Chicago at Houston, 5:10 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN)

Wednesday, Sept. 30: Chicago at Houston, 5:10 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN)

x-Thursday, Oct. 1: Chicago at Houston, 5 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN)

New York vs. Boston

Tuesday, Sept. 29: Boston at New York (Schlittler 14-6), 8:15 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)

Wednesday, Sept. 30: Boston at New York (Fried 5-5), 8:15 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)

x-Thursday, Oct. 1: Boston at New York (Cole 10-9), 8 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)

National League

Atlanta vs. Philadelphia

Tuesday, Sept. 29: Philadelphia at Atlanta (Sale 14-9), 2:15 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)

Wednesday, Sept. 30: Philadelphia at Atlanta, 2:15 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)

x-Thursday, Oct. 1: Philadelphia at Atlanta, 2 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)

San Diego vs. Chicago Cubs

Tuesday, Sept. 29: Chicago at San Diego (King 12-10), 10:10 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN)

Wednesday, Sept. 30: Chicago at San Diego, 10:10 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN)

x-Thursday, Oct. 1: Chicago at San Diego, 10 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN)

Division series schedule

Division Series (Best-of-five)

Saturday, Oct. 4

Dodgers/Reds at Phillies, Game 1

Cubs/Padres at Brewers, Game 1

Yankees/Red Sox at Blue Jays, Game 1

Guardians/Tigers at Mariners, Game 1

Sunday, Oct. 5

Yankees/Red Sox at Blue Jays, Game 2

Guardians/Tigers at Mariners, Game 2

Monday, Oct. 6

Dodgers/Reds at Phillies, Game 2

Cubs/Padres at Brewers, Game 2

Tuesday, Oct. 7

Blue Jays at Yankees/Red Sox, Game 3

Mariners at Guardians/Tigers, Game 3

Wednesday, Oct. 8

Blue Jays at Yankees/Red Sox, Game 4 if necessary

Mariners at Guardians/Tigers, Game 4 if necessary

Phillies at Dodgers/Reds, Game 3

Brewers at Cubs/Padres, Game 3

Thursday, Oct. 9

Phillies at Dodgers/Reds, Game 4 if necessary

Brewers at Cubs/Padres, Game 4 if necessary

Friday, Oct. 10

Yankees/Red Sox at Blue Jays, Game 5 if necessary

Guardians/Tigers at Mariners, Game 5 if necessary

Saturday, Oct. 11

Dodgers/Reds at Phillies, Game 5 if necessary

Cubs/Padres at Brewers, Game 5 if necessary

2026 MLB playoff schedule: Dates, TV channels for ALDS, NLDS matchups, Start-times

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