MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: September 28, 2026, 2:06 PM ET

MLB Baseball

Postseason Field Set

The 2026 MLB playoff bracket is now official, with the Phillies securing the NL's final wild-card berth after a 7-3 win over the Rays on Sunday. Philadelphia's dramatic turnaround untangled a logjam of contenders on the season's final day. The Astros clinched the AL West despite finishing with an 81-81 record, capturing their fifth division title in six years. San Diego secured home-field advantage for a wild-card rematch with the Cubs after beating the Diamondbacks 10-7 to lock up the No. 4 seed.

Playoff Previews and Predictions

ESPN's Jeff Passan handed out his annual offbeat awards, while a comprehensive playoff preview breaks down World Series odds, likely MVPs, and how far all 12 teams will go. For fans whose squads missed October, a guide to ideal Fall Classic matchups offers rooting interests based on what kind of baseball you enjoy. The Dodgers may be chasing a three-peat, but four vulnerabilities could make Los Angeles more beatable than the odds suggest this October.

Key Injuries and Roster Decisions

The Yankees face roster drama entering the playoffs, with questions surrounding Aaron Judge's availability, the third-base situation, and bullpen composition. Boston got a boost as Willson Contreras returned to the lineup for Sunday's regular-season finale ahead of the wild-card series. The Yankees will hand the ball to AL Cy Young favorite Cam Schlittler for Game 1 against the Red Sox, with Max Fried and Gerrit Cole slated to follow.

Managerial Changes

The offseason carousel has already begun. Dan Wilson is out as Mariners manager after Seattle's 76-86 campaign, a stunning fall for a club that reached the ALCS last year. The firing was announced following a "very difficult" season. In Arizona, Torey Lovullo admitted his future is murky after the Diamondbacks missed the playoffs again, despite being the winningest manager in franchise history. Giants skipper Tony Vitello was ejected for the MLB-leading seventh time this season after arguing a checked swing, capping a fiery first year in San Francisco.

Notable Performances and Milestones

Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich was named the first captain in franchise history, with Hall of Famer Robin Yount's blessing. Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor hit his 300th career home run in the second inning against the Marlins, becoming just the third primary shortstop to reach that milestone. Kirby Yates made his first career start for the Pirates at age, then announced his retirement after 12 MLB seasons as a two-time All-Star reliever. Justin Verlander got an emotional sendoff in his major league finale when his 7-year-old daughter made a surprise mound visit, prompting the 43-year-old's early exit. Max Scherzer, pitching on three days' rest at, struck out seven over five innings as the Blue Jays won their season finale. White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery is focusing on the "positives" from his second year rather than his league-leading strikeout total.

Season Statistics and Grades

The average time of a nine-inning MLB game rose by 3 minutes, 43 seconds to 2:42 this season, partly attributable to automated ball-strike challenge reviews. Houston's Yordan Alvarez and Arizona's Gabriel Moreno won batting titles, while Brewers right-hander Misiorowski completed a rare triple crown for pitchers, leading the majors in ERA, strikeouts, and opponent batting average. ESPN's regular-season grades for all 30 teams are in, evaluating clubs from World Series favorites to those already packing for the offseason. MLB has also asked the White House about the possibility of holding a game within a national park, with the administration confirming discussions are underway.