2026 MLB Wild Card Series Odds: What To Know About Each Matchup

2026 MLB Wild Card Series Odds: What To Know About Each Matchup

The four MLB wild-card series are set, with more than a few juggernaut matchups.

Get ready for the MLB postseason with FOX Sports’ wild-card series hub. 

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Wild-Card Series: Chicago leads 1-0

Game 1: The White Sox jumped out to a 5-0 lead and cruised to a 6-3 win to open the series. Munetaka Murakami had one RBI and two runs on the day.

Game 2 Matchup: Hunter Brown (HOU) vs. Sean Burke (CHW)

What To Know: Prior to this season, Chicago had at least 100 losses in each of the last three seasons. They last made the playoffs in 2021, and last won a playoff series in 2005, the same year they last won the World Series. As for the Astros, they have World Series wins in 2017 and 2022 and World Series losses in 2019 and 2021. 

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Wild-Card Series: New York leads 1-0

Game 1: Cam Schlittler struck out 10 in 6.1 innings and didn’t give up a run, and Ben Rice hit two home runs and tallied six RBIs in the Yankees’ 9-0 win.

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Game 2 Matchup: Max Fried (NYY) vs. Sonny Gray (BOS)

What To Know: The two teams faced off in the wild-card round just last season, and N.Y. emerged victorious in three games. Prior to that, Boston defeated New York in the AL wild-card game in 2021, and beat the Yanks 3-1 in the AL divisional round back in 2018. 

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Wild-Card Series: San Diego leads 1-0

Game 1: Michael King was dominant for the Padres, allowing one hit in seven innings. Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. both went deep for San Diego, as it routed Chicago 9-0.

Game 2 Matchup: Nick Pivetta (SD) vs. Kevin Gausman (CHI)

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What To Know: The Cubs beat the Padres 2-1 in last year’s wild-card round, but that series was played at Wrigley Field. The series has now shifted to Petco Park, and the Padres ended the regular season as one of baseball’s hottest teams. That hot streak appeared to continue in Game 1.

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Wild-Card Series: Atlanta leads 1-0

Game 1: The Braves eked out a 5-3 victory in Game 1 behind a 3-run homer from Austin Riley in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Game 2 Matchup: Cristopher Sanchez (PHI) vs. Tyler Mahle (ATL)

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What To Know: The Braves and Phillies know each other well, and their rivalry has carried into October. The Phillies beat the Braves 3-1 in back-to-back division series in 2022 and 2023, and have won all three postseason series between the teams. Atlanta is on the right track in putting an end to that trend, however, taking a 1-0 lead over Philly in their best-of-three wild-card series. 

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AdvertisementDon't Outlive Your Benefits — Long-Term Care insurance with unlimited LTC funds for as long as you live. Call 1-800-317-0625
AdvertisementDon't Outlive Your Benefits — Long-Term Care insurance with unlimited LTC funds for as long as you live. Call 1-800-317-0625