MLB final weekend: what is decided on 27 September
The 2026 regular season ends on Sunday 27 September with all 30 teams playing, and the postseason starts two days later. Four of six divisions are still open — plus a three-way tie for the NL wild card.
Quick answers
- The 2026 MLB regular season ends on Sunday 27 September, with all 30 teams playing.
- The Wild Card Series begins on Tuesday 29 September — four best-of-three series.
- The Division Series starts on 3 October.
- Four of six divisions are still unclinched: the AL East, AL Central, AL West and NL East were open entering the final week.
- The NL wild card is a three-way tie: Cubs, Phillies and Padres all 87-70 as of 23 September.
- The White Sox — beaten 121 times two years ago, an MLB record — are one game out of the postseason.
- Three teams can still reach 100 wins: the Dodgers, Brewers and Rays.
The short answer. Everything finishes on Sunday 27 September, and the postseason begins two days later — so there is no gap to absorb a tiebreaker. The National League divisions are decided; the American League Central and West are not, and the NL wild card is tied three ways at 87-70. Whoever finishes with the best wild card record hosts the opening series, which is why the last three days matter to teams that have already qualified.
The state of play entering the final week
Records as of 23 September 2026. They move every day — treat this as the shape of the races, not the final numbers.
| Race | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| NL Central | Brewers 98-59 | Won |
| NL West | Dodgers 96-60 | Won |
| NL East | Braves 92-65 | Won |
| AL East | Rays 96-61 | Effectively settled; best record in the AL |
| AL Central | Guardians 82-75 · White Sox 81-76 | One game |
| AL West | Astros 78-79 · Rangers 78-79 | Tied |
| NL wild card | Cubs 87-70 · Phillies 87-70 · Padres 87-70 | Three-way tie |
| AL wild card | Yankees 90-67 · Red Sox 84-73 · White Sox 81-76 | Third spot in play |
Swipe the table sideways →
Five things worth following
The White Sox, two years after 121 losses
Chicago lost 121 games in 2024, an MLB record. They entered the final week one game behind Cleveland in the AL Central and holding a wild card place — the first postseason appearance in five seasons is live, and so is the division.
A three-way tie for the NL wild card
Cubs, Phillies and Padres all sat at 87-70. Only the order matters now — the top wild card finishes hosts the best-of-three series, and the three teams were separated by nothing but tiebreakers.
Four divisions still open in the last week
The AL Central (one game), the AL West (tied) and the seeding in the AL East and NL East were all unresolved entering the final six days. Two years ago almost everything was settled by mid-September.
Three teams chasing 100 wins
The Dodgers, Brewers and Rays all entered the last week with a shot at triple figures — and with it, a first-round bye in each league.
Two fitness questions that shape October
Shohei Ohtani’s availability is a live concern for a Dodgers side chasing a third straight title, and Aaron Judge’s calf strain was expected to keep him out at least through the Wild Card Series.
The dates that matter
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Sunday 27 September | Regular season ends — all 30 teams play |
| Tuesday 29 September | Wild Card Series begins (four best-of-three series) |
| Saturday 3 October | Division Series begins |
How the final weekend decides the bracket
Twelve teams reach the postseason — six per league: three division winners and three wild cards. The two division winners with the best records in each league get a bye into the Division Series. The remaining division winner and the three wild cards play a best-of-three Wild Card Series, hosted entirely by the higher seed.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Sun 27 Sep | Regular season ends — all 30 teams play |
| Tue 29 Sep | Wild Card Series begins (four best-of-three series) |
| Sat 3 Oct | Division Series begins |
Swipe the table sideways →
Two consequences of that structure shape the last week. First, seeding is not cosmetic: the top wild card team hosts its whole opening series, so the tie between the Cubs, Phillies and Padres is worth more than a number. Second, because the regular season ends on Sunday and the postseason starts on Tuesday, there is no room for a tiebreaker game — head-to-head and intradivision records settle anything level.
The shirts
Current home jerseys for the clubs in the race — printed names and numbers made to order.
Los Angeles Dodgers Home Limited Jersey - White
New York Yankees Road Replica Custom Jersey - Gray
Boston Red Sox Alternate Limited Custom Jersey - Red
Chicago Cubs Road Replica Team Jersey - Gray
Atlanta Braves Home Limited Custom Jersey - White
Milwaukee Brewers Alternate Authentic Team Jersey - White
When does the 2026 MLB regular season end?
When do the 2026 MLB playoffs start?
Which divisions are still undecided?
What is the NL wild card situation?
How many teams make the MLB postseason?
What happened to the Chicago White Sox?
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Home jerseys for the clubs in the race — printed names and numbers made to order, shipped worldwide.
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