Updated MLB Playoff Bracket 2026 and Expert Hot Takes on Wild-Card Race

In the National League, the Arizona Diamondbacks have been surging with six straight wins, hoping to pull off a miracle and jump ahead of the Phillies for the third NL Wild Card spot. Meanwhile, the Padres can clinch the top wild card spot with either a win or if the Cubs and Phillies both lose.

In the American League, the Yankees and Red Sox are set to face off in the Wild Card for the second year in a row, while the White Sox currently hold the third wild card spot.

Chicago still has a chance to secure the 2-seed and a first-round bye, although they're one game behind the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central.

With just two games to go, let's see what the experts have to say about how the playoff picture will shake out.

The Phillies Are on the Verge of a Brutal Collapse

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"The Phillies are on the verge of a horrific collapse, and the D-backs a miraculous comeback. The weekend weather forecasts match the vibes: Philadelphia will play through a rainy nor'easter while the D-backs are in sunny San Diego," Mike Axisa of CBS Sports wrote Saturday, after the Phillies lost a third straight game.

September has not treated the Phillies well. They've scored 3.68 runs per game this month, which is the second-fewest in the league. Meanwhile, the bullpen has continued to struggle with a 5.23 ERA.

With two games left, the Phillies are now just one game ahead of the Diamondbacks for the third NL Wild Card spot.

Furthermore, the Diamondbacks have rattled off six straight wins and hold the tiebreaker for the final NL Wildcard spot. There is so little room for error for the Phillies, who will look to avoid a collapse of epic proportions after having a 96.9% chance of making the playoffs on September 23, per FanGraphs.

Padres Can Make a Deep Run

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An MLB executive or scout told Buster Olney of ESPN that the Padres are going to win the World Series for the first time in their franchise history.

"Once you get into the postseason with all of the built-in off days, that's going to help their bullpen -- which is the best," the source said about the Padres who are an MLB-best 33-17 since August 1st.

The Padres do indeed have the best bullpen with a two-headed monster in Adrian Morejon and closer Mason Miller.

When you add in how well Jackson Merril and Fernando Tatis Jr. have been playing since the All-Star break and Nick Pivetta's return, you have a dangerous team.

The bats have not always showed up come October; however, the rest of the NL should still be cautious, given the team's current form.