Backs Against the Wall: Four Teams Face Elimination Wednesday
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The Guardians, Yankees, Braves, and Padres must win to survive as the White Sox, Rays, Dodgers, and Brewers look to punch their tickets to the LCS.
The 2026 MLB playoffs reach a critical juncture Wednesday, Oct. 7, with four League Division Series elimination games on the slate, as CBS Sports first reported.
In the American League, the New York Yankees are fighting to avoid a sweep by the Tampa Bay Rays. After a Game 2 loss on Monday marked by four errors, the Yankees will start Max Fried in an effort to keep their season alive. Meanwhile, the Chicago White Sox—the American League's No. 6 seed—hold a 2-0 lead over the Cleveland Guardians. The White Sox, who have started the postseason a perfect 4-0, will host their first home game of the 2026 playoffs in Game 3. Chicago has not reached the ALCS since their 2005 World Series title, per CBS Sports.
Over in the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers are one win away from their third consecutive NLCS appearance. The Dodgers, two-time defending champions, will start Tyler Glasnow on Wednesday following a Game 3 victory over the Atlanta Braves. That win was fueled by home runs from Kiké Hernández and a strong performance from right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who beat Chris Sale, CBS Sports reports.
Finally, the Milwaukee Brewers have another opportunity to eliminate the San Diego Padres. Milwaukee currently leads the series 2-1, though the Padres extended their season Tuesday night with a 4-3 win.
The field has already narrowed to eight teams following the Wild Card Series, which saw the elimination of the Houston Astros, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, and Philadelphia Phillies.