The 2026 Major League Baseball postseason opens on Tuesday with four Wild Card Series matchups, featuring eight teams beginning their quest for the World Series across a packed schedule of games broadcast on NBC, Peacock, and NBCSN. As the October bracket takes shape, former San Francisco Giants players find themselves heavily represented on nearly every contending roster, highlighting a busy trade deadline and offseason transition for the Bay Area club.
National League Wild Card Series Matchups
In the National League, the sixth-seeded Philadelphia Phillies face the third-seeded Atlanta Braves. The Phillies will play without Luis Arraez, who posted a 3.8 fWAR as a Giant before moving to Philadelphia, due to an ankle injury. Atlanta’s roster features several familiar names, including Mike Yastrzemski, who logged a 12.5 fWAR during his tenure in San Francisco, alongside Tyler Mahle and Dom Smith. Mahle is projected to start Game 2 for Atlanta, carrying a 1.99 ERA across nine starts with the Braves following a difficult 5.13 ERA stint in San Francisco.
In the other National League matchup, the fifth-seeded Chicago Cubs take on the fourth-seeded San Diego Padres. The Padres feature Robbie Ray, who recorded a 3.08 ERA for San Francisco this season before struggling after his trade south, where his ERA climbed to 5.02 over nine outings. The Cubs counter with a high-powered offense led by Pete Crow-Armstrong, entering the postseason after posting the majors’ best OPS against left-handed pitching during the regular season.
American League Postseason Openers
The American League features a stark contrast in postseason experience as the sixth-seeded Chicago White Sox visit the third-seeded Houston Astros. Houston has reached the postseason in nine of the past 10 years, anchored by veterans like Jose Altuve and MVP frontrunner Yordan Alvarez. Meanwhile, the White Sox reach the postseason for the first time in five years, completing a turnaround after historic rebuilding seasons.
In the other American League Wild Card pairing, the fifth-seeded Boston Red Sox meet the fourth-seeded New York Yankees. The Yankees hold a distinct advantage in starting pitching depth, led by Cy Young Award frontrunner Cam Schlittler alongside Max Fried and Gerrit Cole. However, New York’s lineup faces questions surrounding the health of three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge, who returned to the injured list earlier this month due to a right calf strain. Boston arrives in the Bronx looking to spark an offense that produced an MLB-low 71 runs during the final month of the regular season.
Postseason Schedule and Broadcast Information
All four Wild Card Series open on Tuesday, setting off a multi-day slate of elimination games. Broadcasters NBC, Peacock, and NBCSN will carry live coverage of the matchups as the field narrows down from eight clubs to the four participants advancing to the League Division Series.