Wild Card series

The Philadelphia Phillies are once again chasing a playoff berth, with Aaron Nola set to pitch on two days' rest as the team makes its fourth attempt to clinch an NL wild card spot. Coverage across MLB.com, CBS Sports and local Philadelphia outlets is focused on the Wild Card Series, including game storylines and rankings of the top players of the 2026 MLB playoffs.

The MLB postseason has arrived, with all four Wild Card Series opening Tuesday as eight of the 12 playoff teams begin their bid for a World Series title. MLB.com's experts have published their picks for who will win each matchup, giving fans a snapshot of the expectations surrounding every first-round series in the 2026 playoffs.

The San Diego Padres completed a two-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs in the MLB Wild Card Series, opening with an emphatic 8-0 rout. Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a leadoff homer in Game 1, while Michael King carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning. The Cubs' offense largely disappeared as their playoff run ended quickly.

The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees opened the 2026 MLB Wild Card round with Game 1 on September 29, drawing massive attention from baseball fans. Highlights of the full playoff matchup between the historic rivals are being widely shared, with viewership and engagement topping a million as fans debate key plays and the series outlook.

The Chicago White Sox open the MLB Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros. Manager Will Venable expressed confidence, saying his team's condition is excellent as they aim to pull off a historic underdog run. Munetaka Murakami starts Game 1 batting cleanup at first base, calling it the start of a long battle. The White Sox plan a bullpen game with constant pitching changes to contain Yordan Alvarez.

The New York Yankees open their MLB wild-card series without star slugger Aaron Judge, who remains sidelined with a calf strain. Reports say Judge and Luis Arráez were left off wild-card rosters, while Garrett Crochet rejoins the Boston Red Sox for the series. A surgeon has warned that rushing Judge back could risk hamstring or Achilles injuries, adding concern over his recovery timeline.

Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is dealing with a calf injury ahead of the American League Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox. After it first appeared he would miss the series, Judge is now aiming to play. His availability remains one of the biggest storylines heading into the postseason matchup.

Luis Arraez will not be included on his team's roster for the National League Wild Card Series after an ankle injury hampered the slugger. The news, reported by MLB.com, comes just as the postseason begins, meaning his club must set its playoff lineup without one of its better hitters while Arraez recovers.

Yankees star Aaron Judge is reportedly 'making progress' and 'doing a lot of convincing' as he pushes to be ready for Game 1 of the team's wild card series. The report suggests his status for the playoff roster remains a question, with the slugger working to prove his fitness to team officials ahead of the postseason opener.

Garrett Crochet has been included on the Boston Red Sox's roster for the American League Wild Card series. The left-handed ace, acquired by Boston to anchor its rotation, is expected to play a central role in the postseason. Fans and analysts are weighing how the Red Sox will deploy him in the best-of-three matchup.

Baseball writers are making their picks for the MLB Wild Card Series, weighing whether the New York Yankees can get past longtime rival the Boston Red Sox, and whether the Philadelphia Phillies can find an offensive spark as the postseason begins. Analysts are split on the outcomes, with the Yankees-Red Sox matchup drawing particular attention given the rivalry and high stakes of the single-round playoff format.

The MLB postseason is underway as the Wild Card Series began Tuesday. The Padres beat the Cubs in Game 1 behind a Fernando Tatis Jr. leadoff home run and a strong start from Michael King, while Yankees rookie Cam Schlittler struck out 10 as New York took the opener over the Red Sox. The White Sox and Braves also won their openers. Elsewhere, the Dodgers' title push is being overshadowed by health concerns around Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman.

The Philadelphia Phillies have set their rotation for the National League Wild Card Series, with Jesús Luzardo named the Game 1 starter and Cristopher Sánchez getting the ball for Game 2 in Atlanta. The announcement confirms the club's pitching plans as playoff baseball begins, giving the left-handers the early October spotlight.

The Boston Red Sox have activated pitcher Garrett Crochet and finalized their roster for the American League Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees. The news, reported by The Athletic and the New York Times, comes as MLB's postseason begins, with the historic Boston–New York rivalry adding extra attention to the matchup.

Major League Baseball's wild card round is airing on Peacock, putting part of the postseason on the streaming service rather than traditional broadcast or cable channels. Fans are reacting to the exclusive streaming arrangement, with some discussing how to access the games and others weighing in on MLB's continued shift toward placing playoff content behind an additional subscription.

Attention is on Major League Baseball's postseason, with experts releasing predictions for every Wild Card Series matchup. Among the highlighted series are Yankees vs. Red Sox and Cubs vs. Padres, renewing storied rivalries on the playoff stage. Analysts are weighing pitching matchups, recent form, and rosters as fans debate which teams will survive the first round and advance deeper into October.

The New York Yankees have given rookie pitcher Cam Schlittler the starting job for Game 1 of their Wild Card playoff series against the Boston Red Sox. The decision hands the high-stakes postseason opener to a young arm rather than a veteran, and baseball fans are debating whether manager Aaron Boone is making a bold or risky call in a heated rivalry matchup.

Catcher Willson Contreras is back in the lineup and expected to be available for the upcoming Wild Card Series, a timely boost for his club ahead of the postseason. In corresponding roster moves, Gasper and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. were placed on the injured list, leaving their availability for October in doubt as teams finalize playoff rosters.

The San Diego Padres have clinched the No. 4 seed in the National League playoffs and will host the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card Series. Securing home-field advantage for the opening round is a significant milestone for San Diego, while the Cubs head to Petco Park as the visiting side for the best-of-three postseason matchup.

The New York Yankees are in the MLB postseason spotlight after moving past the wild card round and into the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, with Game 1 set for Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET. Fans are debating matchup odds, probable starters, and whether the Rays could face an early exit. Attention is also on Aaron Judge, who is working out at the Yankees' Double-A ballpark in New Jersey as he tries to return later in the postseason, while a Yankees bullpen catcher's head-first catch of Ben Rice's grand slam amused fans.

Padres first baseman Ty France came close to missing out on a $200,000 contract bonus before securing it in the final inning of the season. The financial drama surfaced just as San Diego prepares for its NL Wild Card series against the Cubs, where commentators say France's hitting could decide how far the Padres go in October.

The Boston Red Sox have set their Wild Card Series rotation, with left-hander Payton Tolle named to start Game 1 and Sonny Gray slated for Game 2. The decision puts a young arm on the mound for the postseason opener as Boston opens playoff play, and fans and analysts are weighing the choice ahead of the series.

The MLB postseason begins Tuesday with the American and National League Wild Card Series, but several star players are dealing with injuries that could shape the outcomes. MLB.com takes a look at which key names are hurting, how serious the issues are, and what their availability or diminished production could mean for their teams' chances of advancing.

The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees open the AL Wild Card Series, with rookie left-hander Payton Tolle getting the Game 1 start for Boston. Coverage focuses on which Red Sox hitters must deliver and retraces classic moments from the rivalry, with Tolle saying he is amped for the matchup in what one commentator called a potential 'slobber knocker'.

The MLB postseason wild-card round is here, with previews and predictions circulating for four matchups: Red Sox-Yankees, Cubs-Padres, Phillies-Braves and White Sox-Astros. Coverage focuses on series picks, X-factors and key players who could decide each matchup, including renewed attention on the historic Boston-New York rivalry, as fans and analysts debate which teams will advance.

The MLB postseason is set, with the full playoff bracket now confirmed through the Wild Card round to the World Series. FOX Sports has published the complete schedule, laying out when each series begins and how the postseason will progress toward the championship. Baseball fans are checking the dates and matchups as the playoff race reaches its decisive stage.

MLB's Wild Card Series is drawing predictions from fans and analysts, with a high-profile matchup between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox at the center of the debate. Attention is also on the Philadelphia Phillies, with many questioning whether the struggling team can rediscover its form and make a run in the postseason.

The Houston Astros have named Blubaugh as their starting pitcher for Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series, with Hunter Brown expected to take the mound for Game 2. The announcement sets the rotation for Houston's postseason opener as the club begins its playoff run.

Luis Arraez will not be on the Philadelphia Phillies' roster for the MLB wild card round because of an ankle injury, according to an ESPN report being shared among baseball fans. His absence removes a contact hitter from the lineup as Philadelphia begins its postseason run, and fans are weighing how the Phillies will compensate in a short series.

Major League Baseball has announced the umpire crew chiefs assigned to the postseason Wild Card Series. The assignments set the officiating crews for the opening round of the playoffs, when every game carries elimination stakes and umpiring decisions draw heightened scrutiny. Full crew rosters for later playoff rounds are typically named as the postseason progresses.

The San Diego Padres have announced their roster for the National League wild-card series, with Yahoo Sports reporting major surprises on the list. Pitcher Joe Musgrove's situation is drawing particular attention as fans and analysts debate the team's choices heading into the postseason.

The Athletic has published a bracket forecast for the 2026 MLB playoffs, laying out projected matchups and team-by-team scenarios for the postseason. The rundown details which clubs are positioned for division titles, wild-card spots, and potential World Series runs as the 2026 season takes shape, giving fans a full picture of how October could unfold.

The 2026 MLB wild-card series is under the spotlight as the baseball postseason gets set to begin, with fans looking for the full playoff schedule and broadcast details. Guides are circulating on how to watch every wild-card matchup, covering game times, TV listings and streaming options for the opening round of the playoffs.

The Chicago White Sox will meet the Houston Astros in the American League Wild Card Series, setting up a rematch of their 2021 postseason clash, when Houston eliminated Chicago in the AL Division Series. The matchup renews one of the more recent playoff rivalries in baseball, with the White Sox looking for a different outcome against a Houston team with a long track record of October success.

The San Diego Padres have clinched the No. 4 seed in the National League, earning home-field advantage for the Wild Card Series against the Chicago Cubs. It marks a second consecutive postseason meeting between the two teams, with the series once again set at Petco Park in San Diego. Fans and analysts are weighing whether home field will tip the rematch in the Padres' favor.

The Atlanta Braves took Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, rallying from an eighth-inning deficit behind a three-run homer by Austin Riley off closer Jhoan Duran. Atlanta handed the ball to veteran Chris Sale to anchor a depleted rotation. Discussion has centred on Don Mattingly's decision to bring in Duran, a call that backfired and cost Philadelphia the opener.