All articles tagged with #world series
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the betting favorite for the 2026 World Series, but a majority of experts favor the Milwaukee Brewers. The Tampa Bay Rays are the second-most popular expert pick, while the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox face a decisive Game 5.
The 2026 MLB playoffs have narrowed to five teams, with the Los Angeles Dodgers' payroll exceeding the combined spending of the other four contenders. The Dodgers face the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS, while the Tampa Bay Rays await the winner of the AL Central series between the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox. Meanwhile, MLB has issued a memo regarding potential lockout procedures as the current collective bargaining agreement expires in December.
The 2026 MLB Divisional Series commenced on October 3, with the Los Angeles Dodgers remaining the heavy favorites to win a third consecutive title. The Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays, and New York Yankees are the other top contenders, while the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox represent the American League's underdog path. All four Divisional Series are currently tied 1-0 in favor of the higher seeds.
The 2026 MLB postseason features 12 teams, with the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers ranked as the top contenders for the World Series. The Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays are also highly favored, while the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies face significant pitching and offensive concerns. The Wild Card Series begins Tuesday, with key matchups including the Cubs versus the Padres and the Yankees versus the Red Sox.
The 2026 MLB postseason begins Tuesday with four Wild Card Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers are the betting favorites to win a third consecutive title, while the Milwaukee Brewers, who finished with the best record, are second. CBS Sports experts are split, with two predicting a Brewers victory and one favoring the Dodgers. The American League is viewed as weaker, with the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees as the top contenders.
The 2026 MLB regular season concludes in two days, with all National League division titles decided and the American League wild-card race settled. The Houston Astros and Texas Rangers remain tied for the AL West lead, with Houston holding the tiebreaker. In the NL, the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs are battling for the top wild-card spot, while the Philadelphia Phillies lead the Arizona Diamondbacks by one game for the final berth. Bleacher Report predicts the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers will meet in the World Series, with the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres advancing through the wild-card rounds. The Milwaukee Brewers are projected to win the NL Central, and the Cleveland Guardians are favored to defeat the Astros in the ALDS.
Don Cooper, the longtime Chicago White Sox pitching coach who guided the team to a 2005 World Series title, has died at age 70. Cooper served as the major-league pitching coach from 2002 to 2020 and was credited with developing a dominant postseason rotation. The White Sox organization and former players, including Ozzie Guillen and Paul Konerko, praised his direct communication style and his ability to build pitcher confidence. Cooper spent 33 years in the White Sox organization, including 15 seasons in the minor leagues, and previously pitched in the majors for the Twins, Blue Jays, and Yankees.
The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their 13th National League West title in 14 years on September 17, 2026, securing a 14th consecutive playoff berth. Despite this achievement, the team faces significant concerns regarding player health and performance consistency as they prepare for the postseason. Key stars like Shohei Ohtani and Blake Snell are dealing with injuries, while the lineup has shown volatility. Manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the team has not yet played its best baseball, emphasizing the need for health and focus to pursue a historic three-peat.
The Yankees activated Aaron Judge from the injured list ahead of a game against the Rockies, hoping his return can revitalize the offense and bolster a potential World Series run, though his production after a lengthy layoff remains uncertain as the team pushes toward the postseason.
Milwaukee has surged to an 81-50 record and sits on a roughly 100-win pace, driven by elite defense, solid baserunning, and a revamped rotation led by Jacob Misiorowski. The Brewers have dominated the season beyond a rocky 13-13 start, posting a deep resume that includes series wins against top teams and a 43-22 mark vs. teams .500 or better. With that form, a first World Series title feels plausible, while hot-streaks from Phillies and Red Sox and Detroit’s late-season flameout are noted in the surrounding chatter.
MLB owners unanimously approved the San Diego Padres’ sale to Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones in a $3.9 billion deal—the largest in sports—with a pledge to bring a World Series championship to San Diego. The Seidler family era ends as the new owners plan to invest in the club and build on its strong on-field performance, with the team contending for a wild-card spot as closing progresses in the coming weeks.
A Texas judge reinstated Tulsa National after a disqualification, putting Boerne Little League’s World Series berth on hold and forcing a must-win Southwest Region title game in Waco (Tuesday at 6 p.m.) for Boerne to advance to the World Series.
Scott Spiezio, famed for the 2002 Angels’ World Series-clinching moment, battled years of alcohol and drug abuse that nearly cost him his life. After liver failure in 2018 and a life-saving sobriety window to qualify for a transplant, he found renewed faith and sobriety, rebuilt his relationships, and rebuilt his career by later contributing to the Cardinals’ 2006 World Series win. His story includes multiple rehabs, estrangement from his father, and a pivot to coaching, speaking, and sharing a message of hope through his memoir and a forthcoming documentary.
The Dodgers’ weekend acquisition of Tarik Skubal strengthens their chances at a third consecutive World Series and intensifies the ‘love to hate’ narrative around a powerhouse with a massive payroll and star power, highlighting how big-name signings shape October greatness and echoing historic dynasties.
Tarik Skubal joined the Dodgers in a deadline deal from Detroit and spoke about joining a championship‑focused organization, while saying he doesn’t sympathize with critics who blame LA for competitive imbalance; he aims to learn the Dodgers' system, gel with teammates, and chase a World Series title.