The final week of the 2026 MLB season is upon us. Six teams have already clinched a spot in the postseason, and six more will join them by the week’s end. Seeding scenarios are also on the line across the league, with just three divisions locked up entering Tuesday and no first-round byes officially secured.
The Blue Jays and Orioles began a pivotal series Monday, with both teams needing an all-out blitz -- and some help -- over the final week to reach the postseason.
Here’s a look at the other top remaining series, which all begin Tuesday. A lot is still on the line, so we’ll be glued to the edge of our seats through October.
2 AL division titles, 1 Wild Card spot at stake
Guardians at Red Sox
The Red Sox have clinched, and they’re most likely to remain the fifth seed. The Guardians, however, still have everything on the table. They’re one game ahead of the White Sox for the AL Central lead and a potential first-round bye, as they’re three games ahead of the AL West-leading Rangers. But they also still need to make sure they get in the dance. With a good showing in Boston and help elsewhere, the Guardians could clinch as early as Wednesday. A great rookie pitching duel between Parker Messick and Payton Tolle is set for Tuesday, while Foster Griffin and Sonny Gray look to continue their strong campaigns on Wednesday.
White Sox at Royals
The White Sox will head to their division rivals on Tuesday in hopes of completing their remarkable turnaround, from 100 losses in three straight seasons to the postseason in 2026. Chicago, like Cleveland, could clinch as early as Wednesday if things break the right way. But the South Siders will be looking to retake the division crown -- and the up-for-grabs bye -- with a strong week. They’ll need their bats to heat back up after posting a .672 OPS in September thus far, 25th in MLB.
Mets at Rangers
The Rangers lead the Astros for the AL West title by one game entering this week, but they’re two games behind the White Sox in the overall standings, meaning much is still on the line for this group. The already-eliminated Mets will present a challenge, too. New York has played much better in the second half (31-28) and just split four games with the Phillies. The Rangers have won six of their last eight to surge into this position, with Thursday serving as their earliest clinch date. If they perform this week and the Guardians/White Sox falter, a first-round bye is still possible, too. But they could also fall out of the postseason if things go awry.
Astros at Mariners
The Astros are in essentially the same position as the Rangers, only with significantly different vibes around the club. Houston has lost nine of its last 11 games, including a three-game sweep in Atlanta over the weekend. The Astros woke up Sunday morning without a share of first place in the AL West for the first time since July 31. The division, a first-round bye, the third Wild Card and missing the playoffs entirely are each possible. The Astros will need to capitalize against a struggling Mariners club and get help from the Rangers and the AL Central teams. The good news? The Astros own the tiebreaker against the Rangers, should it come into play.
Officially, the Mariners have not been eliminated from the AL West chase, though they cannot earn a Wild Card berth. And with a five-game mountain to climb to reach the Rangers, Seattle’s chances are slim.
Division rivals, future playoff opponents?
Padres at Dodgers
This fierce NL West rivalry will be reprised starting Tuesday, with seeding across the NL on the line. The Padres still need to secure their spot, but their 39-21 record since the All-Star Game -- tied with Milwaukee for best in the NL -- has rocketed them to the verge of the postseason, seeking a third consecutive trip for the first time in franchise history. With a five-game lead on the Diamondbacks and six games to go, they could clinch as soon as Tuesday. They’re also tied with the Cubs for the top Wild Card (Cubs own the tiebreaker) and could earn home-field advantage for the first round.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, have locked up the division and still have a shot at the top overall seed in the NL, sitting two games behind the Brewers. But they’re in prime position to clinch a first-round bye either way.
Rays at Yankees
The Rays need just one win in this week’s four-game series to clinch the AL East -- and do so at their division rival’s home ballpark. The Yankees have secured their spot, and with a six-game lead over the Red Sox for the top AL Wild Card after taking the opener of Tuesday's twin bill vs. Tampa Bay, they are on the verge of securing home field for the first round. If things play out as expected in the regular season, the bracket would line these two up to meet again in the ALDS, should the Yankees advance through the Wild Card Series.
Finalizing the NL bracket
Brewers at Phillies
The Phillies are closing in on the postseason, needing to separate from the Diamondbacks to officially punch their ticket. They’ll have to run through the Brewers (and maybe the Rays later on) to do it. That’s certainly no easy task, though they have a solid lead in the standings. On the flip side, the Brewers can clinch a first-round bye with one win this week or a Braves loss. They’ll also try to tie down the No. 1 seed with a two-game lead over the Dodgers.
Marlins at Cubs
The Cubs will clinch their second straight trip to the postseason with a win or a Diamondbacks loss this week, but the bigger prize is a shot at the top Wild Card and guaranteed games at Wrigley Field. They are tied with the Padres entering Tuesday for the spot, but they own the tiebreaker over each of San Diego, Philadelphia and Arizona. The Cubs control their own destiny against the Marlins and Red Sox to close the campaign.
Diamondbacks at Rockies
The Diamondbacks need to get hot and receive a lot of help, but they do still have a shot at the postseason. They’re four games back of the Phillies for the third Wild Card entering Tuesday but have a favorable matchup against the Rockies to kick things off. Should they remain in contention until the weekend, they could pull off something of a miracle against the Padres, but the odds are quite long.