HOUSTON -- Tyler Mahle was part of a third-place Reds team that was swept by the Braves in the opening round of the expanded playoff format used during the COVID-shortened 2020 season. His hope to pitch in the 2023 playoffs for the Twins was erased when he underwent Tommy John

SAN DIEGO -- Before Dustin Harris’ go-ahead single bounced off the mound and into center field, sparking Petco Park to life … before Ty France launched a towering three-run homer to the Western Metal Building and watched it fly as the ballpark erupted around him … before Jackson Merrill added

Every playoff team has its strengths, its weaknesses, its signature skills. We want to find some of the things that will matter most this October. So we're diving into the Statcast data for the teams that are sitting in clear playoff position and picking out some of the most interesting

Double-A Amarillo punched its ticket to the 2026 Texas League Finals after an epic seesaw series. The Sod Poodles erased a six-run deficit with their backs to the wall on Thursday before holding on for an 8-7 nail-biting win over Frisco at Riders Field on Friday night. So, yeah, D-backs

CHICAGO -- There was a moment Friday night, somewhere early on after first pitch against the Tigers at Rate Field, where the White Sox looked good and their move toward the postseason looked even better. The A's had jumped to a three-run lead in the first inning at Cleveland, while

ST. PETERSBURG – Roman Anthony tore into the third pitch of Friday night’s game at Tropicana Field, perhaps making a Statcast-projected 438-foot statement into a short porch in right-center field that his slump is over. For good measure, the 22-year-old stepped up an inning later and came up with his

There's great interest in naming winners and losers of the Trade Deadline as it plays out in early August. But we often forget to revisit those deals at another important demarcation line: when the calendar flips from September to October. That's when the report card comes in for buyers. Did

PHOENIX -- Gerrit Cole had never surrendered seven home runs over a two-start span before his most recent outings, and with the playoffs around the corner, there was concern that the Yankees’ right-hander might have hit a wall. Most of that came from outside the clubhouse. Yankees manager Aaron Boone

CLEVELAND -- One of the clearest examples of what José Ramírez means to the Guardians is one the Cleveland faithful can relate to. All you had to do was take one look into the Guardians’ dugout on Friday to see it. Ramírez belted a solo home run in the sixth

LOS ANGELES -- Friday marked 20 years to the day since the “4+1” game, one of the greatest comebacks in Dodgers history.

ARLINGTON -- When Rangers manager Skip Schumaker walked out to the mound in the middle of the fifth inning on Friday night, only one thing was on his mind. “How am I going to get through the rest of this game?” he said. “You start counting outs.”

BALTIMORE – With another late-inning rally -- two, actually -- the Brewers moved closer to clinching a well-deserved vacation before the start of their postseason push. Jackson Chourio belted a three-run home run for a second-inning lead and stole two more bases to leave him only one shy of a

HOUSTON -- Matt Olson helped the Braves secure a postseason berth and also joined another exclusive home run club in a 6-2 win over the Astros on Friday night at Daikin Park.

The 2026 postseason is approaching. As you keep an eye on the standings, here is everything you need to know about how the playoff field is shaping up, as well as info about potential tiebreakers and clinch scenarios for each contender.

• MLB's postseason format, explained

The final month of the regular season is here, and MLB.TV has you covered. With the playoff chase heating up, fans can purchase an MLB.TV Seasonal package at a new low price for the season at $29.99. The Single Team package is available for $24.99. Subscribe now through ESPN --

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers signed Edwin Díaz last offseason with every intention of him being their closer, for 2026 and beyond. As he returns from his second injured list stint this season, he finds himself needing to fight for a role in L.A.’s postseason bullpen.

PHOENIX -- Aaron Judge is going back on the injured list, meaning the Yankees must navigate the end of the regular season without their captain -- and potentially part of the playoffs. Judge will be placed on the 10-day injured list with a right calf strain on Saturday, the team

LOS ANGELES -- As Shohei Ohtani works his way back from left knee and right biceps injuries, the Dodgers affirmed that he remains on pace to return before the regular season ends. His next step toward that goal came on Friday, when Ohtani hit coach-pitch batting practice.

NEW YORK -- Orion Kerkering sat in front of his locker inside a mostly empty visitors’ clubhouse late Friday night at Citi Field. He had started the sixth inning of a one-run game against the Mets, but five batters later, he surrendered a three-run home run to Juan Soto to

ST. PETERSBURG -- The way this season has gone, and especially the way this final regular-season homestand has unfolded, it felt like the Rays had more magic in the making late Friday night at Tropicana Field. Trailing by three runs in the sixth inning, they loaded the bases and sent

HOUSTON -- As they ride the roller coaster of playoff pursuit, the Astros are at least seeing what postseason clinchers are like.

LOS ANGELES -- Two days after he exited a start following just one inning due to left groin tightness, Blake Snell threw from 90 feet on the field at Dodger Stadium prior to Friday’s series opener against the Giants. He emerged feeling good, with the Dodgers believing they avoided the

CHICAGO -- Don’t expect Tristan Peters to change his hard-nosed, all-out-effort style of play for the White Sox. Not even after Peters suffered a left shoulder/rib contusion while crashing into the right-center-field wall chasing down Kevin McGonigle’s three-run triple in the fifth during an 11-8 loss to the Tigers on

ST. PETERSBURG – As they head into the final 10 days of the regular season, the Red Sox are monitoring a plethora of injuries to key players. Given that the Sox still hold firm possession of the second American League Wild Card spot and could clinch a berth as early

CINCINNATI -- Right-hander Clay Holmes was on a roll until the sixth inning on Friday night, when the Cubs lost a one-run lead and the game, 6-4, to the Reds at Great American Ball Park. The Cubs (85-69) are tied on record with the Phillies (85-69) and the Padres (85-69)