By Freddy Sanchez, October 6, 2026
This year’s MLB playoffs have history written all over them and may alter future seasons more than people think.
October baseball is known for being filled with upsets and unpredictable stars breaking onto the scene. Randy Arozarena set the all-time record for home runs (10) and total bases (64) in a single postseason in 2020; Ernie Clement broke the record for most hits during a single postseason with 30 in 2025. This October will be no different as stars have made up for slumping seasons with major moments.
The Wild Card Series features the top three teams who finished with the best records but did not win their division. With the two top seeds receiving byes, the weakest division winner by record faces the lowest-ranked wild card team.
The Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres faced off in the Wild Card Series in San Diego. The Padres went on to win the series 2-0.
The Padres had a hot start with Fernando Tatis Jr. going yard in the first inning of game one. The pitching staff neutralized the hot Cubs offense, holding multiple key players hitless. The Padres won game two after Gavin Sheets’ solo home run in the fourth inning put them up 4-1.
The Cubs entered the series with one of the best offenses in baseball with a sixth-ranked offense, but the offense shut down and MVP front-runner Pete Crow-Armstrong did not appear anywhere on the score sheet. Crow-Armstrong remained hitless in seven at-bats and struck out four times.
The Padres are now facing the No.1 seed Milwaukee Brewers in a best-of-five series.
The Brewers were the best team in baseball this season with a 103-59 record, securing home field advantage in every series. They are led by ESPN Cy Young favorite Jacob Misiorowski and lead the league in on-base percentage The Brewers leading in on-base percentage only emphasizes their small-ball playstyle. Their motto can be interpreted as get on and bring them in.
The Atlanta Braves eliminated the Philadelphia Phillies in three games during the Wild Card Series at home.
Phillies fan and business student Joe Limoncelli mentioned that the Phillies had a shot but needed to tighten up certain aspects of their game.
“They (the Phillies) need to get their hitting under control,” Limoncelli said. “The pitching has been pretty good. (Christopher) Sanchez, Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola are all great pitchers and the relief is good. Our hitting has just been awful – (Bryce) Harper can’t hit, (Kyle) Schwarber can’t hit. (Trea) Turner can’t.”
The Braves vs Phillies series was without a doubt the most competitive series this postseason.
Game one included multiple lead changes, but the ultimate moment came from Braves’ third baseman Austin Riley, hitting a three-run home run to secure the series lead. The Phillies won game two behind the back-to-back home runs from Schwarber and Harper. In game three, it was all Braves with three home runs propelling them over the Phillies.
The Braves have Cy Young candidate; Chris Sale, and an offense featuring former MVP outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr., first baseman Matt Olson, outfielder Michael Harris II and reigning Rookie of the Year; Drake Baldwin.
They are now facing the Los Angeles Dodgers in a best-of-five series.
The Dodgers are powered by former MVP Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, who all sit at the top of the batting order. The Dodgers had a season full of injuries that included key players such as Ohtani and Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell but clinched a first-round bye with a 100-62 record.
The American League features the Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Guardians, Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox, who all have a great case for hoisting up the Commissioner’s Trophy.
The Yankees and Red Sox faced each other in the Wild Card Series with the Yankees sweeping the series 2-0.
New York has the AL Cy Young favorite Cam Schlittler, according to ESPN. They dominated the series by allowing just one run across two games and scored 18 runs. The Yankees’ young slugger Ben Rice hit a grand slam in game one to cement the series lead. A six-run sixth inning in game 2 propelled the Yankees to the American League Division Series.
Child development student and casual baseball fan Gracie Baltierra loved to see the historical rivalry once again under the brightest lights.
“My parents always talked about the Yankees and Red Sox facing off in the most heated series, so watching them play will be so much fun,” Baltierra said. “The fans and baseball community will love this series, no doubt.”
The Yankees travel south to face the No.1 seed Rays in a best-of-five series.
The Rays were the best team in the AL with a 98-64 record and will have home field advantage throughout the AL. The Rays will rely on Junior Caminero, Jonathan Aranda and Yandy Diaz to ignite the offense. All-star pitchers Nick Martinez and Drew Rasmussen will lead the way throughout the playoffs alongside their top 10 pitching rotation, which ranked 7th in era amongst the MLB.
Although the AL East has been headlining articles, the other divisions have a chance to upset the odds makers.
The Astros made MLB history by being the worst team by record to make the playoffs at 81-81.
The White Sox traveled to Houston to take on the Astros and swept the series 2-0. This marks their first series win in 21 years. The recent success comes after trading former ace and current Red Sox Garrett Crochet back in 2024.
The Astros struggled to get any offense going during this series and got out-pitched by the White Sox.
The White Sox showcased a complete team by scoring six or more runs in both games and allowing just six runs combined in both. During game one, multiple White Sox players notched two hits with Colson Montgomery leading the way with a solo home run in the fourth inning. The White Sox led the way in game two from the start. The Astros made a push to get within one run, but infielder Chase Meidroth, hit the series-ending three-run homerun in the sixth inning.
The White Sox now face the Guardians in a best-of-five series.
Cleveland is coming off clinching the division during the last week of the season. Both teams are very familiar with each other as they both in the AL Central.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the favorites to win the World Series and become the first team since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees to three-peat.
Not only does CBS Sports feel the Dodgers are favorites to win it all, but accounting student and Dodgers fan Anthony Cardona feels the Dodgers have championship expectations.
“I feel like we are in it to win it,” Cardona said. “I feel they are going all out for the three-peat, especially after acquiring Tarik Skubal at the deadline.”
I can envision the Tampa Bay Rays and Dodgers facing off in the World Series.
The Dodgers finished 100-62 this season, while the Rays finished 98-64, and both have been amongst the three best teams this season. Although they have different financial capabilities, the Dodgers spent $380 million this season on salary compared to the $108 million of the Rays, according to Spotrac. The Dodgers have the highest payroll in baseball this season compared to the Rays’ 23rd-highest, but both teams are well equipped to face off in the fall classic.
The Dodgers will reign supreme this year once again in my opinion because of their star-studded lineup and unprecedented experience. Another championship for the Dodgers will undoubtedly make them the best team this generation.
Feature graphic courtesy of Cael Cross
