2026 MLB playoffs predictions

 The 2026 MLB Playoffs are here, so it's time to make some predictions. Will the Dodgers 3-peat? Will the Yankees win title number 28? Will the Astros go all the way after going 81-81? Here's what I think.

NL Wild Card

Phillies vs Braves: Braves win in 3 games

The Phillies have been a quite disappointing team this year. After back-to-back NL East titles, the Phillies struggled to make the playoffs, and played their worst baseball in the month of September. Kyle Schwarber hit a lot of home runs, but the bullpen is bad. The Braves shook off their rough 2025 season to reclaim the NL East for the first time in 3 years. Matt Olson had a great year, and Chris Sale had his lowest ERA since 2018, and is in the conversation for Cy Young. This is a series that could go either way, but I am taking the Braves just because I can't trust the Phillies right now.

Cubs vs Padres: Cubs win in 3 games

The Cubs returned to the playoffs after having a season of streaks. In April they had a 10 game winning streak. In May they also had a 10 game winning streak, but also had a 10 game losing streak. They seemed to figure it out the rest of the way on the way to an 89-73 record. Pete Crow-Armstrong is probably the favorite to win MVP right now, after hitting 40 home runs and stealing 40 bases. The pitching is doing well and things are looking up. The Padres also returned to the playoffs after looking dead in July. They rallied in the last 2 months and clinched the NL's top wild card spot. This is a rematch of last year's wild card series, and I think it'll have the exact same result.

AL Wild Card

White Sox vs Astros: White Sox win in 2 games

Talk about a turnaround. 2 years ago the White Sox had the worst record in MLB history, and now they're in the playoffs for the first time in 5 years. Led by Japanese phenom Munetaka Murakami, as well as Miguel Vargas and Colson Montgomery and Chase Meidroth, this is a very scrappy team, and they're finally fun to watch. On the other side, how the mighty have fallen. The Astros had a streak of 8 years in the playoffs, including 2 World Series wins. Now they're the AL West champions with a measly 81-81 record, the worst division winners in history. Led by Yordan Alvarez and Isaac Paredes, and closer Josh Hader, the Astros are a team that has the experience, and that could be important. I just don't think it will be and the White Sox win their first playoff series in 21 years.

Red Sox vs Yankees: Yankees win in 3 games

The best rivalry in baseball, and a rematch of last year. The Red Sox seemed dead in the water in the spring, firing longtime manager Alex Cora in April. Then they caught fire in July and started creeping into a playoff spot. Things are looking up again in Boston. The Yankees were very good, but unlucky that the Rays were in their division. They went 93-68 and clinched the AL's top wild card. Aaron Judge was out most of the year, and will not play in the playoffs. Ben Rice stepped up in his absence, hitting 41 home runs. Cam Schlittler was fantastic, with an ERA under 2, and will start game 1 of the series. Last year in this series he started the winner take all game 3, and held the Sox scoreless. I don't think he shuts them out this year, but I do think the Yanks win the series.

NLDS

Dodgers vs Braves: Dodgers win in 4 games

The Dodgers are the back-to-back world champions, and have shown no signs of slowing down. Featuring Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki, Max Muncy, Mookie Betts, and so much more, the Dodgers are expected to be the first team to 3 peat since the Yankees of the 90s, and it's not hard to see why. I think they will get past the Braves.

Cubs vs Brewers: Cubs win in 4 games

The Brewers were the NL's top seed for the second straight year, led by Cy Young favorite Jacob Misiorowski, Brice Turang, Jackson Chourio and more. They're a team to watch out for, and don't be surprised if they are in the World Series. I just believe in the Cubs too much to pick against them for now.

ALDS

White Sox vs Guardians: Guardians win in 4 games

The Guardians won the AL Central for the 3rd straight year, the first time they've won the division 3 times in a row since 2016-18 under their former moniker. Led by Chase DeLauter, Brayan Rocchio, Gavin Williams and more, they are a team to watch out for. They're hungry for a deep playoff run, and they just want it more than the White Sox, in my opinion.

Rays vs Yankees: Yankees win in 5 games

The Rays surprised a lot of people with their season, going 98-64 in their return to Tropicana Field (went under renovations due to Hurricane Milton). Junior Caminero had a breakout year, with 42 home runs, and Drew Rasmussen had a brilliant season pitching. Brian Baker had 42 saves. This should be a great series, but I am going to give the Yankees a slight edge, because I think they have the experience the Rays don't.

NLCS

Dodgers vs Cubs: Dodgers win in 5 games

I have the Dodgers returning to the World Series for the 3rd straight year. I think they have too much talent. 

ALCS

Guardians vs Yankees: Yankees win in 6 games

The Yankees, in my opinion, are too experienced to not make it to the World Series. They made it here 2 years ago, why not now?

Yeah, I'm not even trying to be optimistic. This is the World Series matchup 95% of us would hate. But who would win it?

World Series

Dodgers vs Yankees: Dodgers win in 5 games

The Dodgers win a repeat of 2024 and become the first team to 3 peat since the 1998-99-2000 Yankees. And the majority of the baseball world is pissed.

Those are my predictions for the 2026 MLB playoffs. We might not get a 2027 playoffs, so let's enjoy this one while we can.

Vanderbilt wins on chaotic last play

 The Vanderbilt Commodores and the North Carolina State Wolfpack played a thrilling college football game on Saturday, with an ending no one will forget anytime soon. After jumping out to a 17-0 lead in the first half, the Wolfpack looked like they were going to run away with the game. But Vanderbilt clawed their way back into it, making the score close. However, with less than 10 seconds left, NC State was up 31-28 and all but had the game won. This sets the stage for the games final play.

NC State was inside their own 10 on 4th down with 7 seconds left. The plan was for Wolfpack quarterback CJ Bailey to just fall down in the end zone for a safety, and then stop the Commodores from taking the kickoff back. But what happened was more mind-numbingly dumb than any walk-off kickoff return would've been. Bailey started running around in his own end zone, and then got stripped by Vanderbilt defensive end Miles Capers, and Cayden Daniels recovered the fumble in the end zone to preserve a wild, unforgettable 35-31 victory.

I feel 2 things, really. One, I feel bad for Bailey, because he's not gonna live this down anytime soon. But at the same time, that was an incredibly stupid thing for him to do. All he had to do was fall in the end zone, and NC State wins the game. But no, he had to run around. Now I understand he was trying to run out the clock, but if you're gonna do that, run out the back of the end zone. That way you don't run the risk of something like that happening.

Vanderbilt will try to win their 4th game in a row to open the season in the iconic Jordan Hare Stadium at Auburn University next week, while NC State will host Appalachian State, who are famous for beating Power 4 teams, especially ranked ones. I am curious to see how NC State recovers from such a devastating loss.

Iron Maiden concert review

 We're going to do things a little differently. I was at a concert over the weekend and I want to talk about it. I had a great time.

The concert was Iron Maiden on their Run for Your Lives Tour, featuring Anthrax and Megadeth at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, home to Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls. I was excited, as I had never seen any of these bands. All 3 are metal (and rock, for that matter) royalty. I have heard many songs by these bands, but never seen them live. I didn't know what to expect.

First up was Anthrax. Now, admittedly, I'm not as familiar with Anthrax as I am with the other bands, but I was still excited to see them. They put on a great show, but I wanted to see more. They only played about 7 songs, and they did not play "Antisocial", one of my favorite Anthrax songs. The show was high energy, featuring Scott Ian shredding and hyping up the crowd. Their singer, Joey Belladona, was very good, hitting high notes, and getting the crowd involved. Overall it was good, but it left me wanting more.

Next up was Megadeth. I enjoy Megadeth's music, but I don't like Dave Mustaine as a person. But in their case, I can separate the art from the artist. They did a great job, and Mustaine, who is turning 65 soon, sounded solid for his age. They played many, if not all the songs I wanted to hear from them. I was not disappointed in them at all. Their guitar work was excellent, and the drumming was great. Very high energy and solid show heading into the headliner.

Last but certainly not least, the headliner, Iron Maiden. Arguably one of the greatest and most iconic metal bands in history. They made their dramatic entrance to "Doctor Doctor" and the stadium erupted. Their  set was very high energy, and Bruce Dickinson still sounds good after all these years. He was very energetic and got the crowd very involved. The guitar work was still great too, and the guitarists were swinging their guitars in the air like a windmill. They did an encore afterwards, and still were very energetic, especially for men in their late 60s.

Overall the concert was great. All three bands did such a great job, and I was blown away by the stage production as well (forgot to mention that). I am out of words to describe the show, so I'll end the article here.