MLB Playoffs 2026 Wild Card Games, Odds And Picks

Yankees-Red Sox Headline MLB Playoffs 2026 Wild Card Round

The MLB Playoffs 2026 Wild Card round and best-of-3 series featuring some surprises and most anticipated matchups. That includes the Yankees and Red Sox with series odds favoring the Bronx Bombers as the two teams meet in the playoffs for the second-straight season. Game-by-game matchups provided for your watch and wager interest as you swing for the fences and extra bases during the MLB Playoffs 2026 Wild Card round. .

The MLB playoff bracket includes AL East divisional rivals in the American League – Boston Red Sox (87-75) at New York Yankees (93-68) for the second straight year. The surprising Chicago White Sox (84-78) play AL West division winner Houston Astros (81-81). The National League series begin with the NL East division rivals Philadelphia Phillies (88-74) against division winner Atlanta Braves (94-68). The Chicago Cubs (98-73) play the San Diego Padres (91-71) at Petco Park after the Padres went 17-3 over their final 20 games to secure a playoff spot and home field in the wild card round.

The best-of-3 series games are all played at the home ballpark of the higher seeds – Yankees, Astros, Braves and Padres.

The top four teams in the American League and National League receive a bye into the divisional round – Tampa Bay Rays, (98-64) Cleveland Guardians (85-77), Milwaukee Brewers (103-59) and Los Angeles Dodgers (100-62).

Some key games down the September stretch saw the Houston Astros secure the AL West division title with a win on the final day of the regular season to hold off the Texas Rangers by 1-game. The Rangers missed the playoffs, and the Astros 81-81 record is the worst for a division champion in the history of Major League Baseball.

The Cleveland Guardians also won the American League Central by one game over the Chicago White Sox, and the Guardians (85-77) secure a playoff bye into the divisional round with the second-best record of AL division winners behind the Rays (98-64). The White Sox (84-78) are a wild card team after losing at least 100 games in each of the previous three seasons. Chicago returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2021.

Philadelphia also clinched a playoff spot on the final day of the regular season with a victory, which followed four straight losses and 5-10 record the previous 15 games. The Phillies will have to beat at least two division winners to reach the World Series in the loaded and deep National League, including division rival Atlanta.

MLB Wild Card Series Odds

Leading online sportsbooks post series and opening game MLB odds and pitching matchups. Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting. MLB Playoffs 2026 Wild Card round.

– Yankees (-145) – Red Sox (+125)
– Braves  (-130) – Phillies (+110)
– Padres (-140) – Cubs (+120)
– Astros (-140) – White Sox (+120)

Game 1 – Sept. 29

– Philadelphia (+166) at Atlanta (-184), Total runs 6.5 | 2:10 PM | NBC – J. Luzardo vs. C. Sale
– Chicago (+116) at Houston (-128), Total 8 | 5:10 PM | NBCSN pitchers – H. Smith vs A.J. Blubaugh
– Boston (+122) at New York (-135), Total 6.5 | 8:10 PM | NBC – P. Tolle vs. C. Schlittler
– Chicago (+110) at San Diego (-121), Total | 10:10 PM | NBCSN – M. Boyd vs. M. King

Game 2 – Sept. 30

– Red Sox & Sonny Gray vs. Yankees and Max Fried

Series notes and stats

Major League Baseball expanded the playoff field in 2022. There has been four instances in which a team lost the season series against the team they faced on the road in the Wild Card round yet still won. Each of those series wins have occurred since 2024, and three of those teams came from the AL Central division.

For the first time in MLB postseason play, the ABS challenge system will be used. Automated Ball-Strike storylines and stats to watch.

White Sox-Astros

The White Sox went 2-5 against the Astros this season losing 3-of-4 at Houston. The Astros are in the playoffs for the 10th time in the last 12 years and have the American League MVP in their lineup. Designated hitter Yordan Alvarez led the AL in batting average (.316), on-base percentage, slugging, walks, extra-base hits and total bases.

Phillies-Braves

The Braves won 9-of-13 games over the Phillies this season and the Phillies offense scored just 3.1 runs per game in those contests while being out-scored by the Braves 66-43. With the Phillies top starting pitcher Zack Wheeler having to pitch Sunday in Philly’s playoff-clinching win, the Braves have a decided edge in Game 1 with Chris Sale starting. The Phillies will turn to a number of relievers after Luzardo, who hadn’t pitched since Sept. 7 until a short one inning stint the final game of the season on Sunday. Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber smacked a MLB-best 45 home runs, while the Braves Matt Olson hit 41 HR’s with four other Braves hitters belting 20+ home runs this season.

Cubs-Padres 

Another playoff rematch from last season, when the Cubs defeated the Padres in the wild card round. Chicago scored a MLB-high 850 runs this season, and were third-best in the NL with a 147 run differential (Padres +41). The Cubs also lead the NL with 220 home runs (Padres 183), and San Diego was No. 1 in the NL in stolen bases (164). The Cubs have the best defense in baseball, which helped the pitching staff overachieve from a run prevention standpoint led by speedy center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. The Padres were 48-48 with a -43 run differential at the All-Star Break. A dominant bullpen led them to a second-half surge and the Padres posted a 51-30 record at Petco Park, same home record as the LA Dodgers.

Featured series and pitchers

Red Sox-Yankees: The Red Sox were 32-46 in late June before posting the best record in July that included 15-straight wins on their way to an AL Wild Card berth. Boston was the worst run-scoring offense in baseball in September. However, the BoSox bullpen posted the best ERA in baseball and overall pitching staff allowed the fewest home runs in the American League. Monitor the status of Yankees star slugger Aaron Judge (calf strain) as he attempts to play in the wild card series. The Yankees went 41-25 when Judge played this season scoring 5.1 runs per game – nearly 1 full run more than when he was out of the lineup (52-43).

Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler is the the favorite for the 2026 AL Cy Young Award in just his second Big League season. He led the AL with a 1.95 ERA, and 215 ERA+ over 33 starts and 193 ⅔ innings. His 239 strikeouts and 11.1 per 9 innings was among the best in baseball and nearly a 5/1 K-to-BB ratio. Schlittler’s late season performances included going 5-0 over an 11-start span with a 1.46 ERA and a .143 batting average allowed. Only one of those 11 starts saw opponents score more than one earned run before his final 3-inning tuneup last Thursday ahead of the playoffs.

Red Sox 6-foot-6 lefty Payton Tolle is a rookie and takes the ball in Game 1. He started 26 games with 148 ⅔ innings, striking out 10.4 batters per 9 innings with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4.3. By wins above replacement, Tolle was the second-most valuable pitcher on Boston’s staff, behind Game 2 starter Sonny Gray.

Game 1 Picks: Yankees full game and Yankees 1st 5 innings (-0.5 runs, +110).

Game 2 features Yankees starter Max Fried, who posted a 2.73 ERA across five starts the past month returning from injury and held four of those opponents to 1-run. Fried started just 20 games this season with a pair of stints on the IL due to a bone bruise in his throwing elbow.

Sonny Gray‘s first season in Boston was a beauty. He remains undervalued yet still among the games better pitchers. Gray led the Red Sox in WAR (4.7) and topped the majors with 18 wins while losing just 5  times. His 2.72 ERA over 29 starts and 169 innings was exceptional while limiting batters to 7.9 hits per 9-innings. An ERA+ of 150 produced Gray’s best season since 2023.

The Red Sox Ranger Suarez and Yankees Gerrit Cole will start and pitch Game 3 if necessary. Suarez is another left-hander and the Yankees were one of the worst teams in baseball against left-handed pitching – another reason Aaron Judge’s big right-handed bat would be most valuable. The Yankees-Red Sox series winner will play AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays in the divisional round.

World Series Odds

Top online sportsbook BetOnline has liabilities on the Padres, Brewers, Rays and Red Sox with a San Diego Padres world series winner the worst result for the sportsbook.

+240: Dodgers
+500: Brewers
+750: Rays
+900: Yankees
+1100: Guardians
+1200: Padres
+1600: Braves
+1800: Red Sox
+2000: Cubs, Phillies
+2500: Astros
+4000: White Sox

Check back for additional games and pitching probables and any additional picks and opinions in the MLB Playoffs 2026 Wild Card round.