2026 MLB Wild Card Series presented by AbbVie | Television Schedule & Broadcasters

A slider that promotes NBC’s coverage of the 2026 MLB Wild Card Series, presented by AbbVie. (MLB.com)

| ⏵ Monday, September 28, 2026 (Press Release):

🟄 Highlights:

• The 2026 MLB Postseason begins with the Wild Card Series, presented by AbbVie, and NBC Sports will provide wall-to-wall coverage of all four Wild Card Series.

• The Wild Card Series matchups include: Red Sox vs. Yankees & White Sox vs. Astros in the American League, plus Phillies vs. Braves & Cubs vs. Padres in the National League.

• The winners of the respective Wild Card Series will advance to the American League Division Series & National League Division Series, respectively.

• Notable players set to play in the Wild Card Series include American League batting leader Yordan Alvarez, NL home run co-leader Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Kyle Schwarber.

• Up to 12 games in the Wild Card round, with four games on Tuesday, four on Wednesday, and up to four on Thursday.

Hey, guys! Who is ready to see some October baseball unfold? The postseason has finally arrived, and we get things going this week with the best-of-three Wild Card series. The Wild Card Series is presented by AbbVie and will feature exclusive coverage on NBC Sports platforms, including NBC, Peacock, and NBCSN.

In this article, we will share information that you need ahead of this week’s Wild Card Series matchups. The information includes series-by-series breakdowns, broadcaster information, and a television schedule. With that in mind, let’s get into it! Enjoy!

🔘 ⮞ (NL #6) Phillies vs. (NL #3) Braves — Game 1 — Tuesday, 2:00 PM ET on NBC & Peacock:

Two-time MVP Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies (No. 6 seed) visit 2021 World Series champion Ozzie Albies and the NL East-champion Atlanta Braves (No. 3 seed) in Game 1 of the best-of-three Wild Card series on Tuesday, September 29 at 2:00 PM ET on NBC and Peacock. The Braves won the regular-season series 9-4, and that’s the main reason Atlanta won its first National League East title since the 2023 season. In three prior postseason meetings, Philadelphia has won all of them, highlighted by the Phillies’ upset of the Braves in the 1993 National League Championship Series.

Matt Vasgersian (play-by-play) will call the Phillies-Braves series, alongside former Braves pitcher CJ Nitkowski (analyst) and three-time MLB All-Star John Kruk (analyst), with Ashley ShahAhmadi (reporter) reporting from the field. During key moments, 2010 NL MVP Joey Votto will contribute with “Inside the Pitch” commentary.

Philadelphia comes limping into the postseason after beating Tampa Bay 7-3 on the final day of the regular season just to make the playoffs. Following an impressive 21-7 August, the Phillies posted a disappointing 10-14 record in September, including a four-game losing streak. The Phillies were tied for 29th in batting average in September (.226). Hopefully, Philadelphia can turn the page here in the postseason.

The Braves have not won a postseason series since the Braves captured the 2021 World Series five years ago. Now, they get another crack at Philadelphia, who has owned them come playoff time. Will Atlanta FINALLY be able to wrangle Philadelphia in a postseason series that matters? Braves P Chris Sale was excellent this year, posting a 2.16 ERA over 27 regular-season games.

🔘 ⮞ (AL #6) White Sox vs. (AL #3) Astros — Game 1 — Tuesday, 5:00 PM ET (4:00 PM CT) on Peacock & NBCSN:

Tuesday’s second matchup sees rookie star Munetaka Murakami and the Chicago White Sox (No. 6 seed) battle two-time World Series champion Jose Altuve and the Houston Astros (No. 3 seed) in the opening game of this best-of-three Wild Card series on Tuesday, September 29 at 5:00 PM ET on Peacock and NBCSN. The White Sox and Astros, of course, famously met in the 2005 World Series, in which the White Sox swept the Astros in four games. Then, in 2021, the teams met in the ALDS, where the Astros defeated the White Sox 3-1.

Tuesday’s White Sox-Astros Game 1 will be seen on Peacock and NBCSN, described by play-by-play announcer Tom McCarthy, analyst and 1980 AL Cy Young Award winner Steve Stone, analyst and 2005 World Series champion Geoff Blum, “Inside the Pitch” analyst Adam Ottavino, and reporter Britney Eurton.

Plenty of White Sox hitters will be making their postseason debuts. Can the White Sox figure it out in October? Since the beginning of August, Munetaka Murakami (.154) and Colson Montgomery (.158) have among the lowest batting averages in Major League Baseball. Murakami, though, exceeded expectations, smashing 35 home runs.

As the playoffs begin, Yordan Alvarez will once again be under the microscope. For several weeks, it looked like Alvarez was trapped in the basement. Over the past 11 games, though, Alvarez has been able to wake up and help the Astros with their push towards the AL West title. Alvarez entered Sunday’s game vs. the Athletics with a .400 batting average and four home runs.

🔘 ⮞ (AL #5) Red Sox vs. (AL #4) Yankees — Game 1 — Tuesday, 8:00 PM ET on NBC & Peacock:

Just like in 2025, the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees are facing off in a best-of-three Wild Card Series. On Tuesday, September 29, Ceddanne Rafaela and the Boston Red Sox face Paul Goldschmidt and the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, at 8:00 PM ET on NBC and Peacock. Of course, two of the most storied franchises in baseball met in the playoffs last season.

NBC Sports’ Jason Benetti leads the Red Sox-Yankees Wild Card Series broadcast team, alongside four-time World Series champion Joe Girardi and former Red Sox infielder Lou Merloni. Additionally, Anthony Rizzo will join the broadcast for “Inside the Pitch” commentary, and reporter Caroline Pineda handles on-field reporting throughout the series.

The Yankees went 7-6 vs. the Red Sox during the season, including 4-2 at Yankee Stadium, where the Wild Card Series is being played. Will Aaron Judge play during this series? The Yankees captain missed significant time in the regular season this year due to rib and calf injuries. New York NEEDS Judge in a big-time way if the Yankees want to advance in the playoffs.

🔘 ⮞ (NL #5) Cubs vs. (NL #4) Padres — Game 1 — Tuesday, 10:00 PM ET (7:00 PM PT) on Peacock & NBCSN:

To wrap up the first day of the playoffs, Manny Machado and the San Diego Padres (No. 4 seed) host NL MVP candidate Pete Crow-Armstrong and the Chicago Cubs (No. 5 seed) on Tuesday, September 29 at 10:00 PM ET/7:00 PM PT on Peacock and NBCSN. For the second straight season, the Cubs and Padres are paired in the Wild Card Series.

In the broadcast booth, Dave Flemming (play-by-play) joins former Padres pitcher Mark Grant (analyst) and 12-year MLB pitcher Jim Deshaies (analyst) to work the Cubs-Padres Wild Card Series. Clayton Kershaw (analyst) adds his perspective from the field via “Inside the Pitch,” and John Fanta (reporter) will provide insights throughout the series.

The Cubs posted a 5-1 mark vs. the Padres in 2026 regular-season meetings, winning two of three in San Diego in April, followed by a three-game sweep at Wrigley Field from late June to early July. The final matchup was a 23-3 Cubs demolition.

Pete Crow-Armstrong, of course, is a major key to a series win for the Cubs. The presumptive NL MVP finished tied for the National League with 45 homers. One swing of the stick at a crucial moment could be game-changing.

Following the series openers on Tuesday, the Wild Card Series will continue on Wednesday with four Game 2 contests across NBC, Peacock, and NBCSN. If necessary, Thursday can see up to four do-or-die Game 3 contests in the Wild Card Series. 

Check out more 2026 MLB Postseason coverage by reading specific articles below 👇:

2026 MLB Postseason Articles Summary:

• Wild Card Series (you are currently reading)

• League Division Series

• League Championship Series (scheduled to be released soon)

• 2026 World Series (scheduled to be released soon)

Here is the series-by-series breakdown for the four 2026 MLB Wild Card Series presented by AbbVie (view below and subject to change 👇):

▪  American League:

| 🞽 (AL #6) Chicago White Sox vs. (AL #3) Houston Astros — Chicago White Sox win series, 2-0 (Series begins on Tuesday, September 29) | 

 🆚

. Game 1 - Tuesday, September 29 - White Sox at Astros - Peacock/NBCSN, 5:00 PM ET - Tom McCarthy, Steve Stone, Geoff Blum, Adam Ottavino, Britney Eurton

. Game 2 - Wednesday, September 30 - White Sox at Astros - Peacock/NBCSN, 5:00 PM ET - Tom McCarthy, Steve Stone, Geoff Blum, Adam Ottavino, Britney Eurton

. ✱ Game 3 (if nec.) - Thursday, October 1 - White Sox at Astros - Peacock/NBCSN, 5:00 PM ET - Tom McCarthy, Steve Stone, Geoff Blum, Adam Ottavino, Britney Eurton

| 🞽  (AL #5) Boston Red Sox vs. (AL #4) New York Yankees — New York Yankees win series, 2-0 (Series begins on Tuesday, September 29) | 

 🆚

. Game 1 - Tuesday, September 29 - Red Sox at Yankees - NBC/Peacock, 8:00 PM ET - Jason Benetti, Lou Merloni, Joe Girardi, Anthony Rizzo, Caroline Pineda

. Game 2 - Wednesday, September 30 - Red Sox at Yankees - NBC/Peacock, 8:00 PM ET - Jason Benetti, Lou Merloni, Joe Girardi, Anthony Rizzo, Caroline Pineda

. ✱ Game 3 (if nec.) - Thursday, October 1 - Red Sox at Yankees - NBC/Peacock, 8:00 PM ET - Jason Benetti, Lou Merloni, Joe Girardi, Anthony Rizzo, Caroline Pineda

▪ National League:

| 🞽 (NL #6) Philadelphia Phillies vs. (NL #3) Atlanta Braves — Atlanta wins series, 2-1 (Series begins on Tuesday, September 29) | 

🆚

. Game 1 - Tuesday, September 29 - Phillies at Braves - NBC/Peacock, 2:00 PM ET - Matt Vasgersian, John Kruk, CJ Nitkowski, Joey Votto, Ashley ShahAhmadi

. Game 2 - Wednesday, September 30 - Phillies at Braves - NBC/Peacock, 2:00 PM ET - Matt Vasgersian, John Kruk, CJ Nitkowski, Joey Votto, Ashley ShahAhmadi

. Game 3 - Thursday, October 1 - Phillies at Braves - NBC/Peacock, 8:00 PM ET - Matt Vasgersian, John Kruk, CJ Nitkowski, Joey Votto, Ashley ShahAhmadi

| 🞽 (NL #5) Chicago Cubs vs. (NL #4) San Diego Padres — San Diego wins series, 2-0 (Series begins on Tuesday, September 29) | 

🆚

. Game 1 - Tuesday, September 29 - Cubs at Padres - Peacock/NBCSN, 10:00 PM ET - Dave Flemming, Jim Deshaies, Mark Grant, Clayton Kershaw, John Fanta

. Game 2 - Wednesday, September 30 - Cubs at Padres - Peacock/NBCSN, 10:00 PM ET - Dave Flemming, Jim Deshaies, Mark Grant, Clayton Kershaw, John Fanta

. ✱ Game 3 (if nec.) - Thursday, October 1 - Cubs at Padres - Peacock/NBCSN, 10:00 PM ET - Dave Flemming, Jim Deshaies, Mark Grant, Clayton Kershaw, John Fanta

The following is the daily television schedule throughout the duration of the 2026 MLB Wild Card Series (view below and subject to change 👇):

• 2026 MLB Wild Card Series presented by AbbVie | Daily Television Schedule (NBC platforms) | All Times ET and Subject to Change:

|| ■  Tuesday, September 29 — Wild Card Series, Game 1:

. Game 1 - Phillies at Braves - NBC/Peacock, 2:00 PM ET - Matt Vasgersian, John Kruk, CJ Nitkowski, Joey Votto, Ashley ShahAhmadi

. Game 1 - White Sox at Astros - Peacock/NBCSN, 5:00 PM ET - Tom McCarthy, Steve Stone, Geoff Blum, Adam Ottavino, Britney Eurton

. Game 1 - Red Sox at Yankees - NBC/Peacock, 8:00 PM ET - Jason Benetti, Lou Merloni, Joe Girardi, Anthony Rizzo, Caroline Pineda

. Game 1 - Cubs at Padres - Peacock/NBCSN, 10:00 PM ET - Dave Flemming, Jim Deshaies, Mark Grant, Clayton Kershaw, John Fanta

|| ■  Wednesday, September 30 — Wild Card Series, Game 2:

. Game 2 - Phillies at Braves - NBC/Peacock, 2:00 PM ET - Matt Vasgersian, John Kruk, CJ Nitkowski, Joey Votto, Ashley ShahAhmadi

. Game 2 - White Sox at Astros - Peacock/NBCSN, 5:00 PM ET - Tom McCarthy, Steve Stone, Geoff Blum, Adam Ottavino, Britney Eurton

. Game 2 - Red Sox at Yankees - NBC/Peacock, 8:00 PM ET - Jason Benetti, Lou Merloni, Joe Girardi, Anthony Rizzo, Caroline Pineda

. Game 2 - Cubs at Padres - Peacock/NBCSN, 10:00 PM ET - Dave Flemming, Jim Deshaies, Mark Grant, Clayton Kershaw, John Fanta

|| ■  Thursday, October 1 — Wild Card Series, Game 3:

. Game 3 - Phillies at Braves - NBC/Peacock, 8:00 PM ET - Matt Vasgersian, John Kruk, CJ Nitkowski, Joey Votto, Ashley ShahAhmadi

|| ↣ 🛈 Sources: SportsLogos.Net, MLB & NBC Sports Press Box ↢ ||

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