Written on Sept. 28, prior to the start of the postseason.
After six months, 2,430 games and a hectic 2026 season, the MLB Postseason has arrived. 11 teams look to take the Commissioner’s Trophy and dethrone the back-to-back World Series Champion, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Four wildcard series kick off the action, with the classic Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees rivalry being arguably the most anticipated of them all.
The “Bronx Bombers” come into the series without their superstar captain, Aaron Judge. Despite his past troubles in postseason affairs, Judge has been the backbone of the Yankees lineup for almost a decade now, and he would’ve been crucial to have against Boston’s stellar rotation.
Prediction: Game one will go in New York’s favor. Cam Schlittler is having a monumental season in the Bronx, and he shut the Sox lineup down in their last matchup.
A tight game two will go in favor of Boston. Sonny Gray has racked up 18 wins this year, and his ability to pitch late into games will help edge Boston on Wednesday.
Game three gives us Ranger Suarez for Boston vs. Gerrit Cole for the Yankees, a 2026 All-Star versus one of the league’s best when hot. Cole’s history against Boston is weak, and an early lead in game three will give Boston the series win on the road.
Boston moves on to the American League Divisional Series to face Tampa Bay.
The AL West champion Houston Astros host the Chicago White Sox, filling up the second AL Wild Card series. These two teams met in the 2021 ALDS, with Houston winning that series en route to an AL pennant. Unlike the Red Sox and Yankees, these two teams fought until the last game to clinch a playoff spot. Both teams plan on using relievers in game one.
Prediction: The Astros’ bats duel out Chicago’s lineup in game one. Yordan Alvarez leads a Houston lineup that leads MLB in home runs this season. Historically, this franchise rakes in the playoffs, and I see this trend continuing in the wild card series. Despite Chicago’s ace Sean Burke being ready to pitch in game two, Houston gets hot in the playoffs and wins this grindy series in a sweep.
Houston will move on to the ALDS to face Cleveland.
On the flip side of the bracket, a National League East matchup brings us to Atlanta for the first wild card matchup. The 94-win Atlanta Braves face an underdog Philadelphia Phillies team, which clinched a playoff spot in the last game of the season.
Prediction: Two 14-win pitchers will duel on the mound as the seasoned vet, Chris Sale, gets the ball for Atlanta, and 2026 All-Star, Jesus Luzardo, will throw for Philadelphia in game one.
Sale has experience, is a 2018 World Series champion and has a dominant playoff resume, giving Atlanta the first game of the series.
Game two will go in favor of Philadelphia. The 2022 NL Champions have rich playoff experience, which will help them take game two.
Ultimately, the loyal fans of Atlanta will bring an ecstatic game three crowd, and Atlanta will edge ahead of the Phillies, winning this series in three.
Atlanta will move on and head to California to face the Dodgers in the National League Division Series.
Our final wild card series takes place in San Diego, as the Chicago Cubs, led by NL MVP favorite Pete Crow-Armstrong, will take on the Padres in a highly anticipated series. Two of baseball’s most energetic teams, and two very energetic stars, PCA and Fernando Tatis Jr., headline what should be a stellar matchup.
Chicago has overimpressed me this season with their flashy offense and ability to dominate at home; they can be a possible contender in this postseason.
San Diego notoriously can not get it done in October. They’ve had names like Tatis, Manny Machado, Juan Soto, Josh Hader and Mason Miller, but they can’t seem to bring momentum into October.
Prediction: Chicago’s offense is too much for the Padres mediocre rotation. The Cubs win this series in 2 two games and complete the road sweep.
Chicago will head to Milwaukee to take on the Brewers.
Now to the five-game divisional round series
Red Sox vs Rays: Tampa Bay’s old-school, small-ball approach reigns king in this series. The Red Sox pitching won’t carry them in a five-game series, like it will in the wild card and the team with the most wins in the AL will win in four games.
Tampa Bay advances on to the American League Championship Series.
Astros vs. Guardians: Houston’s playoff past won’t guide them in this series. A poised Guardians team has home-field advantage in the cold city of Cleveland and will use that to their advantage in the ALDS. Gavin Williams will set the tone in game one, and the energy will run into the next two games. Cleveland knocks Houston out of the playoffs with a sweep.
Cleveland will head on to face Tampa Bay in the ALCS
Braves vs. Dodgers: MLB’s undisputed top dog will host to start this NLDS series. Atlanta walks into town with a tough task: take down and dethrone the Los Angeles Dodgers. This series will be a fun one, even heading back to LA for a game five, but LA’s rotation and lineup are tough to pass up. The Dodgers win in 5 games.
Los Angeles advances to the National League Championship Series.
Cubs vs. Brewers: My favorite of the four matchups at hand, this series has it all. MLB’s winningest team, the Brewers, face a fierce Cubs team, who will be coming off of an electric wild card series. Jacob Misiorowski will set the tone for the series, shutting down Chicago in game one. The Cubs will knot the series up in game two, but ultimately drop the next two games, boosting Milwaukee to the NLCS.
Milwaukee and Los Angeles will meet for a rematch of the 2025 NLCS.
With four teams remaining, let’s cut to the chase.
ALCS: Nobody in the AL will beat Tampa Bay in a seven-game series. They bring the perfect mix of power, speed and fundamentals, and teams can not adjust to their style of baseball. The pitching staff runs deep for the Rays, and with that, they easily win this series in five games. Cleveland ends a gritty 2026 campaign just short of the pennant.
Tampa Bay advances to the World Series.
NLCS: LA will be hot, and despite being the lower seed in this matchup, will walk into Milwaukee with energy, taking games one and two. The Brewers will do the same in games three and four, with Milwaukee tying the series 2-2. The Dodgers will learn and adapt, and cleanly win the final two games, giving them the series win in six games
Los Angeles advances to their third straight World Series. This also gives us a rematch of the 2020 World Series, a season where the regular season was shortened to 60 games.
World Series: Two teams with opposite styles, payrolls and fan bases come together for a World Series, this time with fans in the stands. As a baseball fan, I want to think that Tampa Bay will make this one interesting, but I can’t see it happening.
The Blue Jays gave the Dodgers a run for their money and were literally inches away from a 2025 title, but LA never quit.
These two play styles are unique, but one is meant to win championships. LA powered themselves to a remarkable series, winning in five.
Result: The Los Angeles Dodgers finish a three-peat, solidifying themselves as a dynasty in MLB’s long history, and bringing home their fourth title since 2020.
