MLB

Justin Verlander, one of Major League Baseball's legendary pitchers, has brought his 22-year playing career to a close, according to reports circulating in Japanese baseball circles. Fans are sending messages of gratitude and congratulations to the veteran for his long run at the top of the sport.

MLB.com is following the teams positioning themselves for the 2026 Major League Baseball postseason, offering an early look at the clubs in playoff position as the season unfolds. The tracker highlights which contenders are emerging in each league and which franchises still have work to do to reach October baseball.

A running tracker for the 2026 MLB playoffs is compiling current standings, schedules, clinch scenarios, tiebreaker rules and the developing playoff bracket in one place. As the regular season reaches its decisive stretch, fans are following which teams have secured berths and which division races and wild-card spots remain unsettled going into October.

The AL West division title and the final National League wild card spot are the key remaining prizes in the 2026 MLB playoff race, according to FOX Sports. With the postseason approaching, the latest standings leave both battles unresolved, keeping several teams' October hopes alive and making the final stretch of the regular season decisive for clubs chasing a playoff berth.

The Philadelphia Phillies head into the last day of the MLB regular season at risk of one of the most remarkable collapses in recent playoff-race history. Once comfortably positioned, the team's late-season slide has left their postseason fate hanging on the final games, and sports outlets are framing it as an almost unthinkable choke as fans watch the standings closely.

The San Diego Padres defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-7, securing home-field advantage in the National League Wild Card Series. San Diego improved to 90-71 while Arizona fell to 86-75. Fans are discussing the Padres' offense and what home field means for their playoff chances as the postseason begins.

The San Diego Padres have secured the No. 4 seed in the National League and will host the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card Series. As the higher seed, San Diego earns home-field advantage for the best-of-three playoff round, with the series set to open at Petco Park as the MLB postseason gets underway.

The Athletic has published a bracket forecast for the 2026 Major League Baseball playoffs, laying out projected matchups and team-by-team scenarios as the postseason approaches. The breakdown examines which clubs are positioned to reach October, the potential seeding paths, and what each contending team needs to do down the stretch to secure a spot in the playoff field.

The Arizona Diamondbacks enter the final day of the MLB regular season still fighting for a playoff spot, needing both a win in their own game and favorable results elsewhere to reach the postseason. Their fate is no longer fully in their hands, making the season's last day a tense, must-watch moment for fans tracking multiple scores at once.

The Texas Rangers head into the final game of the regular season with their AL West division hopes still alive after contributions from the bottom of their batting order. The lower lineup hitters delivered key production in a recent win, keeping the club within reach of the division title entering Game 162, the last day of the MLB regular season.

MLB.com has published a postseason FAQ addressing what comes next for the Los Angeles Dodgers as the baseball playoffs unfold. The piece lays out the team's remaining path through the postseason bracket and the key questions surrounding their chances. Fans are following closely as the Dodgers' season now hinges on October results.

The Houston Astros beat the Athletics 13-2, with Jeremy Pena hitting two home runs. Houston moves to 80-81 on the season, while the Athletics fall to 64-97. The lopsided AL result and Pena's big night at the plate are drawing attention from baseball fans following the late-season stretch.

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher May has strengthened his case for a spot in the team's postseason rotation as the club finalizes its playoff pitching plans. With October approaching, the Brewers' decision-makers must determine which starters earn rotation roles, and May's recent performance is keeping his name firmly in that conversation.

The Tampa Bay Rays routed the Philadelphia Phillies 12-1 in their MLB game on September 26, 2026. The lopsided final score made it one of the night's most one-sided results, drawing attention from baseball fans following the late-season standings.

The Cincinnati Reds defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 in an MLB game played on September 26, 2026, according to the final score posted by MLB.com's Gameday coverage. The result gives the Reds a comfortable four-run victory in the late-season matchup, while the Blue Jays were held to a single run.

The Texas Rangers defeated the Minnesota Twins 6-2 in their MLB game on September 26, 2026. The final score was confirmed through MLB Gameday. The result matters for fans tracking the late-season standings as the regular schedule winds down, with both teams' performances drawing attention from baseball followers.