NL Wild Card Series

Luis Arraez will not be on the roster for the National League Wild Card Series after being hampered by an ankle injury. The absence removes a noted contact hitter from his team's lineup at the start of the playoffs, and it remains unclear how long the ankle issue will keep him sidelined.

The Philadelphia Phillies have set their rotation for the National League Wild Card Series, with Jesús Luzardo named the Game 1 starter and Cristopher Sánchez getting the ball for Game 2 in Atlanta. The announcement confirms the club's pitching plans as playoff baseball begins, giving the left-handers the early October spotlight.

The San Diego Padres have clinched the No. 4 seed in the National League, earning home-field advantage for the Wild Card Series against the Chicago Cubs. It marks a second consecutive postseason meeting between the two teams, with the series once again set at Petco Park in San Diego. Fans and analysts are weighing whether home field will tip the rematch in the Padres' favor.

The MLB postseason begins Tuesday with the American and National League Wild Card Series, but several star players are dealing with injuries that could shape the outcomes. MLB.com takes a look at which key names are hurting, how serious the issues are, and what their availability or diminished production could mean for their teams' chances of advancing.

The San Diego Padres have locked up the No. 4 seed in the National League playoffs, securing home-field advantage for their Wild Card Series against the Chicago Cubs. The clinching comes as the MLB regular season winds down, with postseason seeding now largely settled. Fans in San Diego are anticipating playoff baseball at Petco Park, while the Cubs will open the series on the road.

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 Chicago Cubs are bound for San Diego for a National League Wild Card series rematch, renewing last year's playoff matchup against the Padres. A headline focus is the duel between Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, known as PCA, and Padres outfielder Jackson Miller-era star Jackson Merrill, two of the game's brightest young players.

The Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves open the National League Wild Card Series on Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET, with the game airing on NBC and streaming on Peacock. MLB.com has published a fan FAQ covering how to watch, pitching matchups and series format as the playoffs begin. It is the latest postseason meeting between the NL East rivals.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong heads into the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres looking to build a postseason legacy after a breakout 2026 campaign. Speaking in San Diego, Crow-Armstrong said he wants to prove his regular-season success translates to October, as fans and analysts watch whether the young star can deliver on baseball's biggest stage.

With the MLB postseason's Wild Card Series underway, attention has turned to how injuries will affect several star players in both the American and National League brackets. MLB.com examines the key names whose health status could shape their teams' chances, leaving clubs and fans weighing lineups and rotations around uncertain contributors.

The Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres meet in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series on Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on NBCSN and streamed on Peacock. MLB.com has published a viewing guide answering common questions about the matchup as the playoffs begin.

The Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies will meet in the 2026 National League Wild Card playoff series. Full details for the matchup, including game times, TV channels, live streaming options and scores, are being published as the postseason begins, with two NL East rivals facing off in a best-of-three series.