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The 2026 Major League Baseball postseason is set to begin with the wild card round, a best-of-three series starting on Tuesday, September 29. The matchups include several high-profile contests, highlighted by an American League showdown between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.
In the National League, the San Diego Padres will host the Chicago Cubs, while the Philadelphia Phillies travel to face the Atlanta Braves. Meanwhile, in the other AL series, the Houston Astros, who finished with an 81-81 record—the worst ever for a playoff team—will take on the Chicago White Sox.
Since MLB expanded its playoff format in 2022, two teams that participated in the wild card series have gone on to win the World Series: the 2023 Texas Rangers and the 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers.
Here is how USA TODAY Sports' MLB reporters and editors predict the best-of-three wild card series will unfold:
Yankees vs. Red Sox Predictions
- Bob Nightengale: Yankees in 3
- Gabe Lacques: Yankees in 2
- Kristie Ackert: Yankees in 3
- Jesse Yomtov: Yankees in 3
Astros vs. White Sox Predictions
- Bob Nightengale: White Sox in 3
- Gabe Lacques: White Sox in 3
- Jesse Yomtov: White Sox in 3
Braves vs. Phillies Predictions
- Bob Nightengale: Braves in 3
- Gabe Lacques: Braves in 2
- Jesse Yomtov: Phillies in 2
Padres vs. Cubs Predictions
- Bob Nightengale: Padres in 2
- Gabe Lacques: Padres in 3
- Kristie Ackert: Cubs in 3
- Jesse Yomtov: Padres in 3
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB expert playoff predictions and wild card picks: Yankees or Red Sox?
Originally reported by yahoo.