cbssports
As the 2026 Major League Baseball playoffs progress, three of the four Division Series have a team leading 2-0. The Guardians, Padres, and Yankees are all facing 0-2 holes, and history is not on their side. Only 10 teams have ever come back from a 0-2 deficit in a five-game series, with the 2017 Yankees being the most recent. Since 2003, it has happened just three times.
Ranking their chances, the Padres come in at No. 3. San Diego used Michael King in Game 2 and emptied its bullpen in the first two games but still has zero wins. The Brewers, who won 103 games in the regular season, seem inevitable, especially after a 103-win campaign and a knack for comebacks. However, the Padres return home to Petco Park, where the atmosphere was electric in the Wild Card Series against the Cubs. Nick Pivetta pitched well, and with a day off, the bullpen will be rested for Game 3. A single win could shift momentum, and Milwaukee's starting pitching drops off significantly after Jacob Misiorowski and Logan Henderson. Still, the Brewers are heavy favorites to close it out.
The Guardians rank No. 2. While the Padres face the mighty Brewers, Cleveland squares off against an 84-win White Sox team that has gone 4-0 in the playoffs, mostly relying on bullpen games. Logic suggests regression is coming for Chicago, but it might not happen this round. The Guardians, an 85-win team themselves, are no juggernaut. With Parker Messick set for Game 4, a Game 3 win could force a Game 5. However, Messick started Game 1 and lost, and the White Sox took four of six regular-season meetings in Chicago. The Guardians' path is easier than San Diego's, but it's still a major uphill battle. The most likely outcome is a White Sox series win at home.
The Yankees top the list at No. 1. They had the best regular-season record and run differential among the three teams, and they dominated the Red Sox in the Wild Card Series, outscoring them 18-2. Max Fried will start Game 3, and if the series extends, Carlos Rodón and a combination of Gerrit Cole and Cam Schlittler could handle Game 5. That's a strong setup. Additionally, Fried and Rodón are left-handers, and the Rays struggle against lefties (.678 OPS vs. LHP compared to .751 vs. RHP). New York's offense was stifled in Tampa Bay, but returning home should help; they had a .755 OPS at home versus .688 on the road. Rays Game 3 starter Nick Martinez has a 4.24 ERA over his last nine starts, and the Yankees beat him on Sept. 22, albeit in a 2-0 game. Of the three teams down 0-2, the Yankees are the most likely to come back, though they are still very likely to lose the series.
Key Analysis
Despite the long odds, the Yankees possess the most favorable circumstances for a comeback. Their regular-season excellence, home-field advantage, and pitching matchups give them a fighting chance. The Guardians benefit from facing a less formidable opponent, but their own limitations and the White Sox's hot streak make a comeback unlikely. The Padres face the daunting task of overcoming a 103-win Brewers team that has shown resilience all season. While a return to Petco Park offers hope, the hole may be too deep. Ultimately, history suggests that all three teams will likely fall short, but if any team can defy the odds, it's the Yankees.
Originally reported by cbssports.