How do MLB playoffs work? Tiebreakers, format, matchups explained

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As Major League Baseball enters the final week of the 2026 regular season, several playoff spots − as well as the overall seedings and a pair of division titles − are still up for grabs.

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What we know for sure is that the champions of all three divisions in the National League have already been determined.

The Milwaukee Brewers (NL Central) and Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West) are almost certain to claim the first two seeds in the National League, which will give them a bye into the division series. That would pit the Atlanta Braves (NL East) against the lowest seeded of the three NL wild card teams.

In the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays are on the verge of clinching the East division title and the No. 1 seed, with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox poised to meet in the wild card round.

The other two division races look like they'll go down to the wire with the Cleveland Guardians a game ahead of the Chciago White Sox in the AL Central, and the Texas Rangers beginning the week a game ahead of the Houston Astros.

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MLB playoff tiebreaker procedure

Once MLB expanded its postseason to 12 teams, it eliminated the one-game playoff to break ties in the standings.

Now, if two or more teams finish tied with the same overall regular-season record, the ties are broken by MLB's predetermined formula:

  1. Head-to-head record
  2. Intradivision record
  3. Intraleague record
  4. Interleague record after the All-Star break
  5. Interleague record after the All-Star break, plus one

If three or more teams tie for a spot, they go through the same tiebreaker procedure outlined above based on winning percentages. However, if one team has a better record against all the other tied teams, that team gets the highest playoff seed and the others restart the tiebreaker procedure.

MLB playoff format

  • The top two division winners (best overall record) in each league receive an automatic bye into the division series.
  • The third division winner in each league (as the No. 3 seed) hosts the third wild card team (the No. 6 seed) in a best-of-3 series.
  • The other two wild card teams (Nos. 4 and 5 seeds) play each other, with the higher-seeded team hosting all three games.
  • The winner of the 4 vs. 5 matchup plays the No. 1 overall seed in a best-of-5 division series, while the 3 vs. 6 winner plays the No. 2 seed.
  • The winners of those series face each other in a best-of-7 league championship series, with the winners advancing to the World Series.

MLB playoff schedule

The MLB postseason begins on Tuesday, Sept. 29 with Game 1 of each of the four wild card series. If necessary, a decisive Game 3 is set for two days later on Thursday, Oct. 1.

All four division series will start on Saturday, Oct. 3. If Game 5 is needed, those will be played on Friday, Oct. 9 in the National League and Saturday, Oct. 10 in the American League.

The National League Championship Series will begin on Sunday, Oct. 11 while the American League Championship Series starts the next day on Oct. 12. The LCS round is a best-of-seven with a 2-3-2 format. If necessary, Game 7 is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 19 in the NLCS and Tuesday, Oct. 20 in the ALCS.

The World Series will begin on Friday, Oct. 23. A winner-take-all Game 7 would be played on Halloween, Oct. 31, if necessary.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How do MLB playoffs work? Tiebreakers, format, matchups explained

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