Updated MLB Payroll Rankings for Dodgers, Rays Remaining Playoff Teams

With five teams still remaining in the MLB playoffs, the Los Angeles Dodgers' payroll is almost as high as the other four teams combined.

One of the Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians will end the 2026 season as the World Series champions.

Here are the payrolls for those five clubs, via Spotrac .

Wednesday saw three of the 10 highest-spending teams lose to end their seasons. The New York Yankees ($308,336,780), Atlanta Braves ($263,462,438) and San Diego Padres ($226,252,714) all went home.

Eight of the top-10 teams in payroll made the postseason, but the Dodgers are the only one from that group still playing. Most of those teams have beat up on each other so far.

For instance, the Yankees eliminated the Boston Red Sox; the Padres knocked out the Cubs; and the Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies prior to being defeated by the Dodgers in the NLDS.

The only division series still going is between the two AL Central teams. The Guardians staved off elimination with a 9-3 win over the White Sox to force a Game 4 on Thursday.

As those two clubs duke it out, the Rays get to patiently wait for their opponent after sweeping the Yankees. They will be making their third appearance in the ALCS, having previously reached the World Series in 2008 and 2020.

Over in the senior circuit, the NLCS matchup most expected to happen came to fruition with the Dodgers and Brewers in a rematch from last year. They were the top two teams in MLB by record during the regular season, with the Brewers winning 103 games and Dodgers close behind with 100 victories.

Their 2025 series was a four-game sweep by the Dodgers in which their pitching held Milwaukee to a total of four runs.

If the Dodgers advance, they will be the first team to reach the World Series in three consecutive years since the Yankees did it in four straight seasons from 1998 to 2001.

Game 1 between the Dodgers and Brewers will be played on Sunday. The ALCS will begin on Monday with the Rays hosting the winner of the Guardians-White Sox series.