MLB playoffs 2026: Final bracket, seeding and postseason schedule after Astros win AL West, Phillies hang on for wild card

The 2026 MLB regular season is in the books, and the postseason begins Tuesday.

Here's what happened on the final day of the regular season and how the playoff picture shook out.

The Phillies beat the Rays to clinch the third NL wild card and the No. 6 seed. With that, the Diamondbacks were eliminated. The D-backs lost to the Padres on Sunday.

The Astros won the division and clinched the No. 3 seed with the Rangers' loss to the Twins . With that, the Rangers were eliminated. The Astros beat the A's on Sunday.

The Nos. 1 and 2 seeds in each league go to the division winners with the two best records. Those teams earn a bye through the wild-card round and home-field advantage in the division series. The Rays (AL No. 1), Guardians (AL No. 2), Brewers (NL No. 1) and Dodgers (NL No. 2) claimed those seeds.

The No. 3 seeds go to the third division winners (that's the Astros and Braves ) and those teams will host three-game wild-card series against the No. 6 seeds (the White Sox and Phillies ).

The top wild-card team in each league (the Yankees and Padres ) earn the No. 4 seeds and will host the No. 5 seeds (the Red Sox and Cubs ) in the wild-card round.

The higher seed also gets home-field advantage in the league championship series, once we get that far.

AL Wild Card (best of 3, Sept. 29-Oct. 1)

NL Wild Card (best of 3, Sept. 29-Oct. 1)

Record: 98-64 Clinched AL East title and No. 1 seed Earned a bye to the ALDS and will host the winner of Red Sox-Yankees

2. Cleveland Guardians (AL Central champion)

Record: 85-77 Clinched AL Central title and No. 2 seed Earned a bye to the ALDS and will host the winner of White Sox-Astros

Record: 81-81 Clinched AL West title and No. 3 seed Will host the White Sox in the wild-card round

Record: 93-68* *Final game vs. Baltimore was canceled due to weather Clinched top wild card and No. 4 seed Will host the Red Sox in the wild-card round

Record: 87-75 Clinched second wild card and No. 5 seed Will face the Yankees in the wild-card round

6. Chicago White Sox (third AL wild card)

Record: 84-78 Clinched third card and No. 6 seed Will face the Astros in the wild-card round

1. Milwaukee Brewers (NL Central champion)

Record: 103-59 Clinched NL Central title and No. 1 seed Earned a bye to the NLDS and will host the winner of Cubs-Padres

2. Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West champion)

Record: 100-62 Clinched NL West title and No. 2 seed Earned a bye to the NLDS and will host the winner of Phillies-Braves

Record: 94-68 Clinched NL East title and No. 3 seed Will host the Phillies in the wild-card round

Record: 91-71 Clinched top wild card and No. 4 seed Will host the Cubs in the wild-card round

Record: 89-73 Clinched second wild card and No. 5 seed Will face the Padres in the wild-card round

6. Philadelphia Phillies (third NL wild card)

Record: 88-74 Clinched third wild card and No. 6 seed Will face the Braves in the wild-card round

Phillies vs. Braves, 2 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock/NBCSN

White Sox vs. Astros, 5 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock/NBCSN

Red Sox vs. Yankees, 8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock/NBCSN

Cubs vs. Padres, 10 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock/NBCSN

Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 3 Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 4 Game 3: Tuesday, Oct. 6 Game 4: Wednesday, Oct. 7* Game 5: Friday, Oct. 9*

Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 3 Game 2: Monday, Oct. 5 Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 7 Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 8* Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 10* (*if necessary)

Game 1: Sunday, Oct. 11 Game 2: Monday, Oct. 12 Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 14 Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 15 Game 5: Friday, Oct. 16* Game 6: Sunday, Oct. 18* Game 7: Monday, Oct. 19*

Game 1: Monday, Oct. 12 Game 2: Tuesday, Oct. 13 Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 15 Game 4: Friday, Oct. 16 Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 17* Game 6: Monday, Oct. 19* Game 7: Tuesday, Oct. 20* (*if necessary)

Game 1: Friday, Oct. 23 Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 24 Game 3: Monday, Oct. 26 Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 27 Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 28* Game 6: Friday, Oct. 30* Game 7: Saturday, Oct. 31* (*if necessary)