The MLB Playoffs begin on Tuesday with four games in the Wild Card round. Let’s take a look at each series, where the winner needs to take two of three games. 

World Series Odds 

(from Draft Kings)

LA Dodgers +200

Milwaukee +600

Tampa Bay +800

NY Yankees +850

Cleveland +1200

Boston +1500

Atlanta +1500

Chicago Cubs +1700

San Diego +2000

Philadelphia +2000

Houston +2500

Chi White Sox +4000

2026 MLB Postseason Preview: All 12 Teams and the Wild Card Matchups

Tampa Bay, Cleveland, Milwaukee and the Los Angeles Dodgers have byes; the other eight teams have at most three games to keep their seasons alive.

That short format makes starting pitching, bullpen availability and lineup health especially important. Here is a look at every team still playing.

American League Wild Card Series

Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees

Game 1: Tuesday, 8 p.m. ET

The Yankees won seven of 13 meetings with Boston this season and will host the entire series. Their pitching staff and home-run power give them a strong foundation, but Aaron Judge’s health is the question that could change the matchup most. He missed much of the summer with a rib injury and dealt with a calf issue after returning. New York needs to know how much he can contribute, not simply whether his name is in the lineup.

Boston took a very different route to October. After a 2–8 start and a managerial change, the Red Sox surged in the second half to secure a return trip to the Bronx. Their pitching gives them a chance to keep games close, even if the offense has a quiet night.

Series Odds: NY Yankees -170

Boston +140

(Boston appears to be a nice dog here having won five of the last 8 in this series).

Chicago White Sox at Houston Astros

Game 1: Tuesday, 5 p.m. ET

Houston won the AL West at 81–81 and took five of seven games from Chicago. Yordan Alvarez is its biggest offensive threat, while Josh Hader gives the Astros a late-inning option if they can get him a lead.

The White Sox have one of the postseason’s best turnaround stories after consecutive 100-loss seasons. They finished with a better record and run differential than Houston, but their young lineup faces a difficult assignment on the road. Munetaka Murakami and Colson Montgomery have game-changing power; both also struggled to hit consistently down the stretch.

What to watch: Chicago must create runs before Houston can turn the game over to its late relievers. The contrast between the White Sox’s stronger season-long run differential and the Astros’ head-to-head and home-field advantages makes this series more interesting than the seeds suggest. The winner faces Cleveland.

Series Odds:

Houston -145

Chicago White Sox +125

(Talk about mediocrity. Houston took 7 of the last 9 in this series. Both teams were able to just get make the playoffs but the White Sox had the better record and the better bet at $1108. Still a great story win or lose).

National League Wild Card Series

Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves

Game 1: Tuesday, 2 p.m. ET

Atlanta won the NL East and went 9–4 against Philadelphia during the regular season. Chris Sale is positioned to lead its rotation after another excellent year, while Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson supply the lineup’s star power.

Philadelphia clinched the final NL spot on the last day, but doing so complicated its pitching plans. Zack Wheeler worked six innings in the regular-season finale. Jesús Luzardo had only just returned from a shoulder issue, and Cristopher Sánchez will not be on full rest until Wednesday. The Phillies also need more from a bullpen that struggled in September.

Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber can change a game with one swing. For this particular series, though, Philadelphia’s pitching schedule may be as consequential as its offense.

What to watch: Atlanta has the clearer Game 1 pitching setup. Philadelphia has beaten the Braves in previous October meetings, but its current starter availability and bullpen form are more useful measures for this series. The winner advances to face the Dodgers.

Series Odds:

Atlanta -125

Philadelphia +105

(Two NL East rivals meet. Atlanta has won 6 of the last 10 in this series. Have to give them the avantage).

Chicago Cubs at San Diego Padres

Game 1: Tuesday, 10 p.m. ET

This is a rematch of the Cubs’ three-game Wild Card victory over San Diego last year. Chicago also won five of six regular-season meetings in 2026. Its offense led the majors in OPS, with Pete Crow-Armstrong supplying a rare mix of power, speed and center-field defense.

San Diego earned home field with a strong finish. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill give the Padres impact bats, and Michael King is lined up for Game 1. Their greatest potential advantage may come late: if the starters hand a lead to the bullpen, San Diego can call on Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller.

What to watch: Chicago’s lineup against the Padres’ starters is the central contest. First-five-inning and full-game prices may point in different directions if San Diego’s bullpen has a sizable edge. The winner moves on to Milwaukee.

Series Odds

San Diego -120

Ch Cubs +100

(The Cubs have the best player in Crow-Armstrong but Chicago’s pitching wores are worrisome. )

The Four Teams With Byes

Tampa Bay Rays — AL No. 1 seed: Tampa Bay won 98 games behind a roster led by Junior Caminero, Drew Rasmussen and Yandy Díaz. The Rays await the Yankees–Red Sox winner. Their strong home record matters, but so will keeping the rotation sharp during the layoff.

Cleveland Guardians — AL No. 2 seed: Cleveland rallied from a losing record in August to win the AL Central. José Ramírez remains the lineup’s focal point, with Parker Messick and Cade Smith among its important arms. The Guardians await Houston or Chicago. Their seed is strong, but their narrow run differential suggests the eventual matchup deserves a close look.

Milwaukee Brewers — NL No. 1 seed: Milwaukee finished with the best record in baseball at 103–59. Jacob Misiorowski, Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio lead a balanced club that also compiled an excellent home record. The Brewers will host the Padres–Cubs winner.

Los Angeles Dodgers — NL No. 2 seed: The two-time defending champions won 100 games and enter with Shohei Ohtani, Tarik Skubal and Yoshinobu Yamamoto among their headline talents. They await Atlanta or Philadelphia. The bye helps set their rotation, while the final health and workload plan will determine just how strong that advantage is.

The Betting Approach

A three-game series can turn on one starting-pitcher decision or one overworked bullpen. Confirm the starters, lineups and available relievers before using a regular-season trend to assess a postseason game. Then compare the matchup with the price being offered: the team most likely to win is not automatically the best bet.