The 2026 MLB Playoff Bracket Is Set

The Dodgers have a first-round bye, and await the winner of Braves-Phillies.

Honestly, all the teams on the NL side of the bracket scare me.

Game 162 Thread: Sept 27 @ Giants, 12n

TBD vs. TBD.

And we've finally reached the endpoint, the last game of the 2026 regular season, and a chance for the Dodgers to...really not do anything besides start resting up for the NLDS.

I do not care about winning 100 games this season. Just stay healthy.

Game 161 Thread: Sept 26 @ Giants, 1p

Blake Snell (4-1, 1.86) vs. Matt Wilkinson (1-3, 3.65).

The Dodgers don't have anything for which to play in the last two days of the season, as we've secured the first-round bye and the #2 seed in the playoffs.

And the Giants also don't anything for which to play, having been eliminated on September 7, 2026.

So how about we just invite the seagulls in early today, and just call it a day? Or maybe that's what the Giants were already thinking, having scheduled the game in the afternoon so they could enjoy the nightlife.

Game 160 Thread: Sept 25 @ Giants, 7.15p

Tarik Skubal (11-7, 2.85) vs. Yunior Marte (0-1, 4.66).

The Dodgers lost the game and the series with the Padres last night, allowing our rivals to celebrate their clinching a playoff berth in our visitng clubhouse. Even still, the Braves' 7-6 loss at home to the Reds (Elly De La Cruz mashed his 30th HR) allowed the Dodgers to back in to the playoff bye seed, thereby solidifying the Dodgers' postseason fate as the #2 NL team.

Who the Dodgers will play coming out of the 4-5 series, though, remains to be seen. As of today, it would be the iwnner of the Phillies-Braves series, which makes me feel better given the Padres and their stingy bullpen look really tough. But scoreboard watching those games: Rays @ Phillies (3.40p), Braves @ Marlins (4p), and Diamondbacks @ Padrees (6.40p), will be interesting as they shape the rest of the NL playoff bracket (and our future opponent).

Game 159 Thread: Sept 23 vs. Padres, 7p

Glasnow vs. Pivetta.

I am on the road today so this is another light post.

Game 158 Thread: Sept 23 vs. Padres, 7p

Ohtani's back.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (14-8, 2.51) vs. Robbie Ray (13-8, 3.50).

After shutting out the Padres yesterday in a bullpen game--dropping the Padres into a three-way tie in the wild card race (with the Cubs and Phillies)--the Dodgers go up against the Giants' castoff, Robbie Ray.

Andy Pages returned to the lineup yesterday (0-for-2 with a BB and a run scored). Shohei Ohtani returns today.

Are the Dodgers finally returning to form?

Game 157 Thread: Sept 22 vs. Padres, 7p

TBD vs. Michael King (12-9, 3.03).

The Padres come into town today for three games, and though both teams' playoff fate is largely set (the Dodgers have a four-game lead over the Phillies for a playoff bye, with a magic number of three; the Padres are tied with the Cubs for the first wild card position, a game ahead of the Phillies and five games ahead of the Diamondbacks).

But that still doesn't make thie series any less scary. With Halloween around the corner, this is just the type of series between hated rivals that might make the Padres go "Boo."

Don't let your guards down, Dodgers!

Game 156 Thread: Sept 20 vs Giants, 1p

TBD vs. Wilkinson.

Sorry, still out of pocket. But i watched last night's game from the Bay Area and it was awesome.

Game 155 Thread: Sept 19 vs. Giants, 6p

Skubal vs Marte.

Game 154 Thread: Sept 18 vs Giants, 7p

Glasnow vs Perdomo.

The Dodgers are NL West Champions again.

The Giants are 64-89 (29 games behind), way down the NL West standings.

That is all.

Game 153 Thread: Sept 17 @ Reds, 9.40a

Wrobleski vs. Singer.

Ten more games this season, and the Dodgers look vulnerable--even more so now that Blake Snell is injured again.

Of course he is.

Game 152 Thread: Sept 16 @ Reds, 3.40p

Snell vs. Abbott.

Sorry, still out of pocket. Glad we are still winning.

Game 151 Thread: Sept 15 @ Reds, 3.40p

Yamamoto vs Lowder.

Sorry, I am out of pocket today. And not just because the Dodgers just clinched (yay!).

Game 150 Thread: Sept 14 @ Reds, 3.40p

Tarik Skubal (9-7, 2.84) vs. Nick Lodolo (3-4, 5.12).

The funny thing about cream-puff schedules down the stretch is, you actually have to WIN those games for it to benefit the team record. So starting out this roadtrip 1-2 in Miami is not a good first step.

We just swept the Reds at home earlier this month. Maybe we can get our groove back at Great American Ballpark.

Game 149 Thread: Sept 13 @ Marlins, 10.40a

Emmet Sheehan (5-8, 5.08) vs. Eury Perez (7-11, 3.94).

With yesterday's dispiriting loss, the Dodgers are now sandwiched in between the Brewers and Braves: 2.5 games behind the Brewers for the NL one-seed, and 2.5 games ahead of the Braves (who are in the three-seed). The Brewers and Rays have already clinched playoff berths.

I think we spoiled our chances for a weekend playoff berth clinch with yesterday's loss, but I'm not that good at math so I might be wrong.

Game 148 Thread: Sept 12 @ Marlins, 1p

Tyler Glasnow vs Tyler Phillips.

We've got Tylers all over the place today.

Eight in a row, part of the Dodgers' punching-bag schedule in September. Do not be fooled by beating up on weak teams (Kyle Tucker, I am talking to you).

Game 147 Thread: Sept 11 @ Marlins, 4p

This Skylanders Trap Team character is named "Gusto", btw.

TBD vs. Ryan Gusto (1-4, 4.23).

Technically, the Marlins are still in the NL Wild Card race, even at 72-75, only 6.5 games out of the final spot. But the Fish are close to being fried, and if the Dodgers can keep up their winning ways, there's an outside chance we could clinch a playoff berth this weekend. We will see if we can start this series with gusto!

Shohei Ohtani On The IL

Welp, the obvious was finally actioned by the Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani hits the IL for a 15-day stint.

LOS ANGELES -- After nearly a week of kicking the can on the ailing Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers opted to place their superstar on the injured list to recover from his lingering left knee and right biceps injuries. To replace him, they're getting an infusion of youth as they gear up for what they hope will be another deep postseason run.

The Dodgers will call up outfielder Josue De Paula, MLB Pipeline's No. 6 overall prospect, to make his big league debut on Friday in Miami, manager Dave Roberts said after Wednesday night's 14-1 win over the Reds at Dodger Stadium. De Paula will get some runway at designated hitter while Ohtani is on the 15-day IL, as well as some reps in the corner-outfield spots.

Ohtani will not travel to Miami or Cincinnati (this next road trip). With the backdating of the IL stint, he will be eligible to return on Sept 23, leaving five games left before the end of the regular season for Ohtani to get battle-ready.

Yikes.

Game 146 Thread: Sept 9 vs. Reds, 7p

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12-8, 2.57) vs. Rhett Lowder (6-9, 5.43).

The Dodgers have beaten up on weaker teams for six consecutive wins, and while I'm not one to celebrate an outcome that is both expected as well as overdue--it is amazing to see that we've done this without Shohei Ohtani in the lineup (either performance-wise, or even physically some nights).

Kyle Tucker still isn't stepping up (except for a couple of great defensive plays this series!), but seeing Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernandez regain form...it gives me more hope for October than I had coming out of August.

We're now three games ahead in the second playoff spot, and only a game and half behind the Brewers for the best record in the National League. Let's continue resting that missing piece in the hopes it completes the whole in October.

Game 145 Thread: Sept 8 vs. Reds, 7p

Tarik Skubal (8-7, 2.86) vs. Nick Lodolo (3-3, 5.08).

The Dodgers now have a five-game win streak, in part thanks to the misadventures in the field by the Reds last night.. And before we get too excited, let's remember that the Dodgers' September schedule is incredibly weak, full of sub-.500 teams (except the Padres for three games at home).

Curb that enthusiasm. We still are only nursing a two-game lead over Atlanta for that second playoff (bye) spot.

Game 144 Thread: Sept 7 vs. Reds, 6p

TBD vs. Chase Burns (15-3, 2.79).

Wait, we've got a four-game win streak, and tonight we face the sub-.500 Reds and have a chance to chase Burns?

Exxxxxcellent, Smithers!

Game 143 Thread: Sept 6 vs. Nationals, 7p

Justin Wrobleski (11-5, 3.65) vs. Andrew Alvarez (2-6, 3.47).

National Drama is the UK's leading subject association for Drama teachers and theatre educators. But it also seems like the Dodgers the last two nights, as they've required some ninth-inning heroics to get wins over the Nationals in the series' first two games.

Justin Wrobleski, an All-Star in the first half of the season, will be gunning for a berth in the postseason rotation. The Dodgers are back in front of Atlanta for the second playoff bye spot.

So, more drama to come tonight (in a rare Sunday night game!).

Game 142 Thread: Sept 5 vs. Nationals, 6p

Tyler Glasnow (4-0, 2.79) vs. Cade Cavalli (12-5, 3.12).

The Dodgers are winning games again! Kyle Tucker hit a home run at Dodger Stadium! And: Blogger commenting is back!

It has been feast or famine time since the All-Star Break for the 2026 Dodgers. Are we finally back to feasting?

Game 141 Thread: Sep 4 vs. Nationals, 7p

Blake Snell (2-1, 2.42) vs. Jackson Kent (1-2, 5.59).

I'm aware that blogger wouldn't let comments publish on last night's Game Thread. I happened to be listening while on a nighttime run, and it was driving me nuts as I heard us squandering scoring opportunities (we only scored our first run on a wild pitch, and ended the game 1-for-9 with RISP) all over the place.

After Dalton Rushing's eighth inning failure with the bases loaded (he struck out, with the Dodgers down 2-1), I figured all was lost. Surprisingly, Teoscar Hernandez came through with a one-out double in the bottom of the ninth to score Tommy Edman and Mookie Betts, winning the game 3-2..

Oh, and Kyle Tucker went 0-for-3 with a K. He's now batting .225 and has a -0.2 WAR, for his $60M salary.

I wish I could have commented on this one. I'm glad we avoided the sweep.

We're tied for the second playoff bye spot, along with Atlanta. It would be great to start swatting (g)Nats tonight.

Game 140 Thread: Sept 3 vs. Cardinals, 7p

Tarik Skubal (8-7, 2.84) vs. Quinn Mathews (1-2, 5.03).

The Cards have been eating us alive this series, but maybe we can snack on Quinn today.

And maybe Shohei should rest. Really.

Game 139 Thread: Sep 2 vs. Cardinals, 7p

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12-8, 2.56) vs. TBD.

After Eric Lauer helped serve up five home runs to the Cardinals in yesterday's debacle, let's see if Yoshi can keep it in the yard today.

My god, we are awful sometimes.

Game 138 Thread: Sept 1 vs. Cardinals, 7p

Playing Cards.

Eric Lauer (8-6, 4.78) vs. Michael McGreevy (5-9, 3.86).

We had sparks of offense in the final game of an otherwise disappointing 2-4 road trip, which served to waste some outstnading pitching performances throughout both series. Now we come back to Chavez Ravine--where Kyle Tucker is even worse, mind you--and see if we can maintain our thin hold on the second playoff spot (a half-game over the Braves, who inexplicably lost to the Giants in a makeup game Monday).

We'll see!