The Braves, Padres, White Sox and Yankees each took care of business in the Wild Card round. Now, this upcoming Saturday kicks off four heavyweight Division Series matchups.
Here are the dates, times and venues for all four Division Series matchups:
Atlanta Braves (3) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (2)
- Game 1: Oct. 3, 4 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium
- Game 2: Oct. 4, 8 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium
- Game 3: Oct. 6, 6 p.m. ET at Truist Park
- *Game 4: Oct. 7, 6 p.m. ET at Truist Park
- *Game 5: Oct. 9, 8 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium
San Diego Padres (4) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (1)
- Game 1: Oct. 3, 8:30 p.m. ET at American Family Field
- Game 2: Oct. 4, 4 p.m. ET at American Family Field
- Game 3: Oct. 6, 9:30 p.m. ET at Petco Park
- *Game 4: Oct. 7, 10 p.m. ET at Petco Park
- *Game 5: Oct. 9, 4:30 p.m. ET at American Family Field
Chicago White Sox (6) vs. Cleveland Guardians (2)
- Game 1: Oct. 3, 1 p.m. ET at Progressive Field
- Game 2: Oct. 5, 5 p.m. ET at Progressive Field
- Game 3: Oct. 7, 4 p.m. ET at Rate Field
- *Game 4: Oct. 8, 5 p.m. ET at Rate Field
- *Game 5: Oct. 10, 5 p.m. ET at Progressive Field
New York Yankees (4) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (1)
- Game 1: Oct. 3, 6:30 p.m. ET at Tropicana Field
- Game 2: Oct. 5, 8 p.m. ET at Tropicana Field
- Game 3: Oct. 7, 8 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium
- *Game 4: Oct. 8, 8 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium
- *Game 5: Oct. 10, 8 p.m. ET at Tropicana Field
*If necessary
In the American League, AL Central and AL East foes square off. Meanwhile, the Braves and Dodgers will travel coast-to-coast in a rematch of the 2021 NLCS. Finally, the Padres will head up to Wisconsin for a matchup with the owners of MLB’s best record, the Milwaukee Brewers.
Here’s who we think is heading to the League Championship Series:
Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Pick: Dodgers defeat Braves, 3-1
The back-to-back world champs start their 2026 run with a tricky test. Atlanta swept the Dodgers at the end of August and won five of their six matchups in the regular season. Few teams can say that in reference to the Dodgers.
However, the Braves are coming into L.A. with a depleted pitching staff. Chris Sale threw 95 pitches in his Game 1 start on Tuesday and tossed 21 more out of the bullpen in yesterday’s Game 3 win. Atlanta is the sole advancing team that needed three games to do so, and that will hurt them in the Division Series.
The Braves have their choice of Grant Holmes or Bryce Elder to face Tarik Skubal at Chavez Ravine on Saturday. The depth of the Dodgers’ rotation figures to overshadow Atlanta’s staff throughout the series. With Yoshinobu Yamamoto likely set for Game 2, it’s tough to envision the Braves stealing a game on the road.
Atlanta punches back in Sale’s start back home, but the Dodgers roll on to the NLCS in four games.
San Diego Padres vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Pick: Brewers defeat Padres, 3-2
San Diego blazed past a talented Cubs team in the Wild Card but now have a completely different monster in front of them. While the Cubs dealt with season-long pitching woes, the Brewers will throw the NL Cy Young favorite on Saturday. Starting in Milwaukee, the series will take on a very different feel early on.
San Diego swept the Brewers at home in mid-August, although they didn’t see Jacob Misiorowski in the series. Back in May, Milwaukee took two of three in the first series between the two.
While San Diego holds the regular-season advantage, a five-game series likely favors the Brewers. Milwaukee’s starting staff is stronger across the board than San Diego’s group. Not to mention, the Padres expended Michael King and Nick Pivetta in the Wild Card series already.
Jacob Misiorowski would make two starts if the series went five games. Heavily underrated righty Logan Henderson finished with a 2.47 ERA in the regular season and likely owns the rights to Game 2. Beyond that, Dustin May threw a complete-game shutout against the Padres earlier this year as a member of the Cardinals.
It’s very possible that San Diego’s home-field advantage accounts for both of the Padres’ wins in the series. However, three games in Milwaukee with stout starters on the hill seems like too tall of a mountain for San Diego to climb.
Chicago White Sox vs. Cleveland Guardians
Pick: White Sox defeat Guardians, 3-1
In a battle of sub-90-win AL Central teams, momentum seems like a difference-maker. The Sox just cruised past the division champion Astros, while the Guardians watched from home.
The big challenge for Chicago will be getting through starters Gavin Williams and Parker Messick. The co-aces should take the first two games at Progressive Field in Cleveland.
On the other side, it appears Chicago will get creative again with their staff. Hagen Smith — who opened Game 1 of the Wild Card series with three shutout innings — is listed as the opener for Game 1 of the ALDS. While they don’t own an “ace” starter or a lockdown closer, they’re plenty talented between the margins to survive against a relatively weak Cleveland offense.
I envision Chicago jumps on Williams or Messick early in one of the first two matchups. If they can split on the road, it’s tough to see the series getting back to Cleveland for a Game 5. Momentum kills. Sox in four.
New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Pick: Rays defeat Yankees, 3-2
This series should be the most anticipated on the slate, I would think. The AL East clubs finished with the two best records in the American League this season. Many are saying that this matchup could be the “real ALCS,” in theory. And there’s plenty of truth to that.
Yankees fans are waiting anxiously on Aaron Judge’s status, which remains pretty high up in the air, according to the most recent indications. The plan is for Judge to return straight to the outfield, to avoid a logjam at DH/1B with Paul Goldschmidt and Ben Rice.
With or without Judge, the Yankees are still dangerous. Their 18 runs scored in the Wild Card series led the field, along with their four home runs (T-1st). Ben Rice put on his best Aaron Judge impression, homering twice in the series opener, including a grand slam.
On Tampa’s side of things, Junior Caminero is the X-factor. The 23-year-old MVP candidate mashed 42 home runs in the regular season, and he now enters his first postseason ever, in a huge role. All eyes will be on No. 13 in this series.
The Rays will throw their ace Drew Rasmussen in Game 1, and likely either Griffin Jax or Freddy Peralta in Game 2. For New York, it’ll be 36-year-old Gerrit Cole in Game 1 and most likely Carlos Rodón in Game 2. Tampa Bay will avoid Cam Schlittler and Max Fried at the Trop, which could allow them to go up 2-0 in the series right away.
Similar to the Padres-Brewers series, it’s tough to see either team losing at home. I’m predicting a high-stakes Game 5 at Tropicana Field that narrowly goes to the Rays.
