The 2026 MLB playoffs open with the Wild Card Series, a best-of-three round that runs September 29 to October 1. This page tracks the format, the matchups as the six seeds in each league fill in, the dates and TV, and a free printable Wild Card bracket and series tracker you can fill in as the games go final. The Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers are the first two clubs to lock up division titles; the rest of the field is still being decided.
Quick Facts
- Round: Wild Card Series, the first round of the 2026 MLB playoffs
- Dates: September 29 to October 1 (Game 1 Sept 29, Game 2 Sept 30, Game 3 if needed Oct 1)
- Format: best-of-three; the higher seed hosts all three games
- Field: six teams per league; the top two seeds get a bye to the Division Series
- Matchups: seed 3 vs seed 6 and seed 4 vs seed 5 in each league
- TV: NBC, Peacock and NBC Sports Network (the Wild Card round’s new home for 2026)
How the Wild Card Series Works
Twelve teams reach the postseason, six from each league. The three division winners are seeded one through three by record, and the three wild-card teams are seeded four through six. The top two seeds in each league skip the Wild Card round and wait in the Division Series. That leaves four clubs per league to play best-of-three Wild Card Series: the No. 3 seed hosts the No. 6 seed, and the No. 4 seed hosts the No. 5 seed. Every game is played at the higher seed’s ballpark, so there are no travel days and the reward for a better record is three straight home games.
2026 Wild Card Picture (Projected)
Here is where the field stands right now. Only the Rays and Brewers have clinched so far, so treat the seeding below as projected from current standings; the wild-card order and the final spots can still move. Print the bracket below and pencil in the matchups as they lock.
| American League | Team |
|---|---|
| Division leader (bye contender) | Tampa Bay Rays (AL East, clinched) |
| Division leader (bye contender) | Houston Astros (AL West) |
| Division leader | Chicago White Sox (AL Central) |
| Wild Card | New York Yankees |
| Wild Card | Boston Red Sox |
| Wild Card | Cleveland Guardians |
| National League | Team |
|---|---|
| Division leader (bye contender) | Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West) |
| Division leader (bye contender) | Milwaukee Brewers (NL Central, clinched) |
| Division leader | Atlanta Braves (NL East) |
| Wild Card | Chicago Cubs |
| Wild Card | Philadelphia Phillies |
| Wild Card | San Diego Padres (Diamondbacks chasing) |
Dates and TV Schedule
| Game | Date | TV |
|---|---|---|
| Wild Card Game 1 (all four series) | Tuesday, Sept 29 | NBC, Peacock, NBC Sports Network |
| Wild Card Game 2 | Wednesday, Sept 30 | NBC, Peacock, NBC Sports Network |
| Wild Card Game 3 (if necessary) | Thursday, Oct 1 | NBC, Peacock, NBC Sports Network |
The Wild Card round moves to NBC and Peacock for 2026, the first time NBC has carried postseason baseball in a generation. Exact game times are set once the matchups lock in the final weekend of the regular season.
Printable Wild Card Bracket and Series Tracker
Download the free printable: a blank Wild Card bracket for both leagues plus a best-of-three series tracker so you can log every game to the Division Series.
What Comes After the Wild Card Round
Wild Card Series winners advance to the Division Series, which begins Saturday, October 3 against the two teams that earned first-round byes. The League Championship Series follow, with the NLCS starting October 11 and the ALCS October 12, and the World Series opens Friday, October 23.
More from Sports Brackets
- 2026 MLB playoff bracket, schedule and matchups
- 2026 MLB postseason TV schedule: every round, channel and time
- 2026 MLB magic numbers tracker
- 2026 MLB playoff tiebreaker rules
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the 2026 MLB Wild Card Series start?
Game 1 of all four Wild Card Series is Tuesday, September 29, with Game 2 on September 30 and a Game 3 if needed on October 1.
How does the Wild Card round work?
It is a best-of-three series. In each league the No. 3 seed hosts the No. 6 seed and the No. 4 seed hosts the No. 5 seed, with all games at the higher seed’s ballpark. The top two seeds get a bye to the Division Series.
What channel is the Wild Card Series on?
The 2026 Wild Card round airs on NBC, streams on Peacock, and also appears on NBC Sports Network. It is the first year NBC carries the round.
Last updated: September 12, 2026.
