The four Divisional Series rounds in the AL and NL for the 2026 MLB Postseason have officially reached their halfway points and game 3 for the NL matchups start tonight. I want to give my thoughts on how all 4 series have gone so far.
NLDS
Brewers hold a 2-0 lead on San Diego
The way the Brewers won game two on Sunday was awesome, but it just proves something that stands out about this team. The fact that Milwaukee just does not die, you need all 27 outs to beat this Brewers team and the Padres have seen that first hand. In the two games of this series, San Diego has jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning of game one and a held a 3-1 lead in the seventh inning of game two. Yet Milwaukee was able to win both of those games. In the second game, San Diego went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. The inability to score proved costly as in the ninth inning down 3-2, Milwaukee loaded the bases with Padres closer Mason Miller on the mound and Jackson Chourio on his last breath with a 2-2 count hit the line drive past Jake Cronenworth and walked it off for the Brewers. You can blame the first game on Ty France having a fly ball that (maybe) would’ve been a home run hitting the ceiling or other bad luck, but the fact of the matter is San Diego is in a hole because of not being able to put the Brewers away. Now, the Brewers were in the same spot last year as they went into game 3 of the NLDS with a 2-0 lead but their opponent in the Cubs sent it to game 5. Can the Padres do the same? Maybe, they did sweep the Brewers at Petco Park back in August but they will need to use their home park to their advantage two more times.
Braves and Dodgers tie the first two games
To be honest, this series is going exactly how I thought it would go as it is equal. I genuinely have no clue who will win this series. It’s easy to say the Dodgers based on how their Postseason run went last season with their talent, but when both of these teams played each other this season the Braves throttled the Dodgers. Atlanta took five of the six total games that both teams played at both Los Angeles and Atlanta. Now the series shifts to Atlanta’s home ballpark at Truist Field. Last time the Braves and Dodgers played in a playoff series, the Braves took all 3 games at Atlanta to take the 2021 NLCS. With the next two being at Truist, can Atlanta do the same or the Dodgers shock the Braves crowd and either take both or at least one to send it back to Dodger Stadium for game 5.
ALDS
Rays have the Yankees on the brink
Once again another Yankees team goes into game 3 of the ALDS at Yankee Stadium down 2-0 against the AL East champion. Tampa Bay won games one and two with scores of 1-0 and 5-2. In the first game, all Tampa needed was a home run from Jonathan Aranda as their pitcher, Drew Rasmussen, shut the Yankee hitters down with 7 2/3 no-hit innings. Then in game two, Tampa just did what they have done all year, put the ball and play and work with what they got. The Rays offense took advantage of New York’s defense as 3 of their 5 runs came off of the fielders choice with their first one being a throwing error from the Yankees. Last season, the Yankees fell in 4 to the Blue Jays in the ALDS and are now in trouble of the same happening again but this time to the Rays. Yes, Aaron Judge is hurt but if the Yankees don’t survive this series, manager Aaron Boone might not survive as the Yankees manager.
White Sox just one more win from ALCS with a 2-0 lead in the series vs Guardians
As a fellow catholic, maybe divine intervention is actually a real thing. Pope Leo’s White Sox are playing like God is on their side as they went into Cleveland and won the first two games 3-0 and 4-3. The same White Sox team who had a bad road regular season record currently are 4-0 in their first four road games of the Postseason. Now they get to go home to Southside for game’s 3 and 4 with a chance to clinch a spot in the ALCS. Cleveland on the other hand looks to have another fast playoff exit again in the first round vs an AL Central team. Like the other three series, it’s not over yet but this Cleveland team has been getting beat to a squad that is playing with house money.
Game 3 starts tonight with the Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves at 5 pm CT along with Brewers at Padres at 8:30 pm CT. Both games can be seen on Fox Sports 1.
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