Eight Major League Baseball teams remain in contention as the postseason advances into the Division Series stage, with the Los Angeles Dodgers pursuing a third consecutive World Series championship. The National League bracket features two best-of-five matchups beginning Saturday, while the American League also presents two intriguing divisional face-offs.
In the National League, the Atlanta Braves secured their spot by defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 6-2 in Game 3 of the wild card series on Thursday. The Braves will now meet the two-time defending champion Dodgers, who enter the series as favorites to claim their third straight title. Despite some recent injury setbacks, Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is expected to contribute predominantly as a hitter this postseason. The 32-year-old four-time MVP has compiled a .275 batting average with 30 home runs this season but has been limited on the mound due to left knee soreness and right biceps inflammation. The Braves, boasting a deep and potent lineup featuring Ronald Acuna Jr., Michael Harris II, Matt Olson, and Ozzie Albies, rely especially on the latter three, who each delivered key home runs in the decisive wild card game.
The other National League Division Series pairs the San Diego Padres against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers dominated the regular season, finishing with a franchise-record 103 wins, largely on the strength of their balanced offense and pitching depth. Right-hander Jacob Misiorowski is favored to earn the National League Cy Young Award, and infielder Brice Turang anchors their lineup. Meanwhile, the Padres, who sputtered for much of the year before surging in September, bring a veteran core led by Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Ty France, and Jackson Merrill.
In the American League, the New York Yankees advanced to face the Tampa Bay Rays after sweeping the Boston Red Sox in the wild card round without their three-time MVP Aaron Judge, who is sidelined due to a right calf strain. Judge’s availability for the Division Series remains uncertain, but the Yankees have demonstrated resilience in his absence. The Rays, despite being considered a small-market team, continue to exceed expectations, with slugger Junior Caminero, who belted 42 home runs during the regular season, leading their lineup.
The final American League Division Series matchup pits the Chicago White Sox against the Cleveland Guardians. The White Sox have transformed remarkably since losing a modern-era MLB record 121 games just two seasons ago. Their roster includes versatile hitters Colson Montgomery, Munetaka Murakami, Miguel Vargas, and Chase Meidroth, supported by an effective if unspectacular pitching staff. The Guardians counter with standout pitcher Parker Messick and offensive leaders Steven Kwan and José Ramírez.
The MLB postseason features 12 qualifying teams—six from each league. The format progressed from the wild card round to the current best-of-five Division Series, followed by best-of-seven League Championship Series, culminating in the World Series between the American and National League champions. The Division Series run from October 3 to 10, with American League games broadcast on TBS and National League games on FOX and FS1. The League Championship Series will take place from October 11 to 20, and the World Series is scheduled for October 23 to 31, airing on FOX.
As the competition intensifies, the Dodgers stand as the betting favorites with odds of +210 to capture their third consecutive title. The Brewers (+550), Rays (+800), and Yankees (+800) are also considered significant contenders for the championship.