The 2026 MLB regular season concludes on Sunday, Sept. 27, leaving a brief interval before the playoffs commence. Wild Card Series games are scheduled from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, featuring a best-of-three format where the higher-seeded team hosts all three games. This hosting structure represents the first time since 2012 that the higher seed holds home-field advantage for the entire series under the current playoff rules.

The Division Series begin on Saturday, Oct. 3, with TBS carrying the American League Division Series and American League Championship Series. FOX and FS1 will carry the National League Division Series and National League Championship Series.

The National League Division Series determines which two teams from the National League advance to the National League Championship Series. The American League Division Series includes an extra scheduled off day between Games 1 and 2.

The League Championship Series begin no earlier than Sunday, Oct. 11. The National League Championship Series starts on Sunday, Oct.

11, while the American League Championship Series starts on Monday, Oct. 12. The National League Championship Series is the MLB series to determine which team will represent the National League in the World Series. These series follow a best-of-seven format.

The 2026 World Series begins on Friday, Oct. 23, with all games airing on FOX. A potential World Series Game 7 is scheduled for Saturday, Oct.

31. The World Series follows a best-of-seven format and includes scheduled off days on October 25 and October 29. The off day on October 29 is dependent on the series lasting more than five games, a factor that could impact team travel and rest schedules. FOX and FS1 postseason coverage is available to stream on FOX One.

Twelve teams qualify for the MLB playoffs, with six from the American League and six from the National League. In each league, the two highest-seeded division winners receive first-round byes. The Los Angeles Dodgers enter the 2026 season as the two-time defending World Series champions. As of late July 2026, seven American League teams were separated by 3.5 games in the race for the final Wild Card spot.

Timeline

Skip Schumaker served as the manager of the Texas Rangers as of July 21, 2026. On that same date, seven American League teams were separated by 3.5 games in the race for the final Wild Card spot. Foster Griffin was traded from the Washington Nationals to the Cleveland Guardians on July 30, 2026. The Los Angeles Dodgers lost eight of nine games leading up to mid-August 2026, specifically around August 10.

The 2026 MLB regular season ends on Sunday, Sept. 27. The 2026 MLB playoffs begin on Tuesday, Sept. 29, with the Wild Card Series. Wild Card Series games are scheduled from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, and these games will air on NBC.

What's New

The Wild Card Series has been part of MLB's postseason format since 2012, but the 2026 schedule marks NBC's return to hosting the Wild Card Series for the first time since the 2000 AL Championship Series. NBC's coverage of the 2026 Wild Card Series will be the first time the network has hosted postseason baseball since the 2000 ALCS, despite prior agreements with MLB for other events. The Los Angeles Dodgers are the two-time defending World Series champions entering the 2026 season.

The 2026 Wild Card Series is the first time since 2012 that the higher-seeded team will host all three games of the best-of-three format, as per MLB's updated playoff structure. The 2026 World Series includes scheduled off days on October 25 and October 29, with the latter dependent on the series lasting more than five games, which could impact team travel and rest schedules. The National League Division Series is a Major League Baseball series to determine which two teams from the National League will advance to the National League Championship Series. Skip Schumaker is the manager of the Texas Rangers. The 2026 MLB regular season ends on Sunday, Sept. 27.

How Sources Differ

Sources differ regarding scheduled off days in postseason series. A press release states that the 2026 World Series includes scheduled off days on October 25 and October 29, with the latter dependent on the series lasting more than five games, which could impact team travel and rest schedules. The Major League Baseball 2026 postseason schedule indicates that the American League Division Series includes an extra scheduled off day between Games 1 and 2.

Why It Matters

The 2026 postseason structure grants first-round byes to the two highest-seeded division winners in each league, altering the path for twelve qualifying teams. With seven American League clubs separated by just 3.5 games for the final Wild Card spot late in the season, the race determines whether teams face an immediate best-of-three series or rest while others compete. Broadcast coverage shifts across NBC, TBS, and FOX networks dictate where fans can view these elimination games from late September through October.