My Thoughts on The 2026 MLB Post-Season

 

The 2026 MLB post-season picture is complete. 

Let's begin with the AL.

The Tampa Bay Rays won the AL East. It is their first post-season appearance since 2023 & first AL East title since 2021. With the best record in the AL, the Rays earn a first-round bye.

The Cleveland Guardians won their third consecutive AL Central title. It is the Guardians' third consecutive AL Central title and fourth in five years. Since 2016, the Guardians have won 7 AL Central titles but have no World Series rings to show for it as they are in the midst of a drought which goes back to 1948. The Guardians also get a bye in in the AL Wild Card round.

After missing the post-season a year ago on a technicality, the Houston Astros have won their 8th AL West title since 2017. Granted, the Astros finished with a record of 81-81 with manager Joe Espada not returning to manage in 2027 regardless of what they do in the post-season. To put that into perspective, the Astros would have finished 22 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers were they back in the NL Central where they were from 1994 to 2012. Hell, they even finished a game behind the Pittsburgh Pirates. But the Astros live to fight another day and will face the Chicago White Sox in the AL Wild Card Series.

The Chisox are a remarkable story with their first post-season appearance since the COVID shortened 2020 season. They are two years removed from losing an MLB record 121 games which they did exactly two years ago today. Last year, the White Sox lost 108 games under first year manager Will Venable. To say, the Chisox exceeded expectations would be an understatement. They won 30 more games than they did a year ago. 

Still, I'm sure the Chisox are disappointed they didn't win the AL Central having led the division for most of the second half of the season. Should the Chisox prevail against the Astros they would get another shot at the Guardians. A footnote on the upcoming White Sox-Astros matchup. The two teams faced each other in the 2005 World Series when the Astros were still an NL team with the Chisox sweeping the Astros and earning their first World Series title since 1917.

The other AL Wild Card matchup will see the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees face each other for a second year in a row. The Yankees prevailed a year ago. But this time there's no Aaron Judge or Giancarlo Stanton. But Ben Rice has picked up where they have left off. Still, they face a resilient Red Sox squad which fired Alex Cora in early April and had the worst record in the AL in late June before winning 32 of 37 games. The winner will face their AL East rival the Rays in the ALDs. 

Now let's turn our attention to the NL.

After missing the post-season last year, the Atlanta Braves won the NL East for the 7th time since 2018 under new skipper Walt Weiss. The Milwaukee Brewers set a franchise record 103 wins en route to their fourth consecutive NL Central title and fifth in six seasons. Meanwhile, the defending back-to-back World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers won their 14th NL West title in 15 years. With 100 wins of their own both the Dodgers and Brewers earn byes in the NL Wild Card round while the Braves will face the Philadelphia Phillies who reached the post-season by the enamel of their teeth.

The 2026 Phillies have had a season for the ages. The team fired manager Rob Thomson after a 9-19 start replacing him with Don Mattingly. Within three weeks, Mattingly had righted the ship. However, the Phillies were on the verge of a 1964 like collapse following a surge from the Arizona Diamondbacks but Mattingly righted the ship once more. If Mattingly navigates the waters against the Braves, the Phillies will face the Dodgers in the NLDS. Of course, Mattingly was Dave Roberts' predecessor at Chavez Ravine managing the club from 2011 to 2015 winning those first three NL West titles. 

The other NL Wild Card matchup will see the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres face each other. As with the Red Sox and Yankees, they will face each other for the second year in a row. The Cubs won last year avenging their collapse against the Friars in the 1984 NLCS. Whoever prevails in this matchup faces the Brew Crew in the NLDS.

So here are the possible World Series rematches.

New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (2024, 1981, 1978, 1977, 1963, 1956, 1955, 1953, 1952, 1949, 1947 & 1941)

Houston Astros vs. Philadelphia Phillies (2022)

Houston Astros vs. Atlanta Braves (2021)

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (2020)

Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (2018 & 1916)

Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (2017)

Cleveland Guardians vs. Chicago Cubs (2016)

New York Yankees vs. Philadelphia Phillies (2009 & 1950)

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Philadelphia Phillies (2008)

New York Yankees vs. Atlanta Braves (1999, 1996, 1958 & 1957)

New York Yankees vs. San Diego Padres (1998)

Cleveland Guardians vs. Atlanta Braves (1995 & 1948)

Chicago White Sox vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (1959) 

Cleveland Guardians vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (1920) 

Boston Red Sox vs. Chicago Cubs (1918) 

Boston Red Sox vs. Philadelphia Phillies (1915)

Chicago White Sox vs. Chicago Cubs (1906)

There are two World Series matchups which have not previously taken place which would fascinate me.

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Milwaukee Brewers or San Diego Padres

Should either of these teams face each other in the Fall Classic it would mark the first World Series matchup where neither team had previously won a World Series since 1980 when the Phillies bested the Kansas City Royals to win their first championship.

While I do not follow baseball with the same rigor and enthusiasm, I still keep an eye on the standings and still care who will end up winning it all. It would be nice to attend another Red Sox World Series parade if at all possible. Whatever the outcome, let the games begin tomorrow.

Dan Wilson Won't Manage Mariners in 2027 After Disappointing Season

Prior to today's 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels, Dan Wilson announced he would not return to manage the ballclub in 2027.

After winning the AL West and coming within heartbeat of their first AL pennant in 2025, the Mariners took a huge step backwards this season finishing with a 76-86 record with 14 fewer wins despite only being 5 games back of the Houston Astros. While Randy Arozerena led the AL in runs scored, Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez and Josh Naylor struggled at the plate. Raleigh hit a paltry .177 with 23 HR and 68 RBI. While the power numbers were decent, consider that he finished runner up in AL MVP balloting last year with 60 HR and 125 RBI.

Wilson took over the club in August 2024 following an in season collapse under his predecessor Scott Servais. He had never had any prior managing experience though Wilson had spent 12 out of 14 MLB seasons as the Mariners catcher plus 13 additional seasons in the team's front office. It is unclear if Wilson will return to the Mariners' front office.

Given that Wilson was promoted within the organization, one wonders if Mariners' brass will look for an external candidate and try to lure the likes of former Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora. 

Then again even if the Mariners had won the AL West, that might not have been enough for Wilson to keep his job. After all, Astros manager Joe Espada won't be back in the dugout in 2027 despite winning the division. 

Sometimes winning isn't enough. But in Wilson's case it was case of not being able to replicate lightning in a bottle. There was no spark in Seattle this season and Wilson couldn't ignite it.

Angels Lose 100 Games in a Season for 1st Time in Franchise History

The Los Angeles Angels have officially reached their nadir. This afternoon the Angels ended the 2026 MLB season with a 7-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners.

The loss leaves the Angels with a 62-100 record marking the first time in franchise history that they have reached triple digits in losses in a single season.

Since debuting in 1961, the Angels had 35 losing seasons prior to 2026. Yet the team only had five last place finishes and only three seasons with 95 or more losses. The closest the Angels came to losing 100 games was in 2024 when they lost 99 games under Ron Washington. Their last winning season was in 2015.

Earlier this month, Arte Moreno announced plans to sell the team to Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke.

While this is good news, it could take several more seasons before the Angels are contenders let alone play their home games in a half decent ballpark. This might mean some more losing seasons with the possibility of additional 100 loss campaigns. Perhaps the Angels won't start winning again until after Mike Trout's contract expires following the 2030 season.

Next year will mark the 25th anniversary of the Angels' lone World Series title. That championship seems a lot farther removed and far away than a quarter century ago.

Pirates Enjoy First Winning Season Since 2018

The Pittsburgh Pirates finished the 2026 season on a positive note with a 4-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers. 

This positive gives the Pirates an 82-80 record marking their first winning season since 2018.

I am sure that the Bucs are annoyed that they will have a better record than the AL West champion Houston Astros and have go to home.

Nevertheless, the Pirates are heading in the right direction despite a subpar season from 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes whose ERA nearly doubled. But Braxton Aschraft stepped up with 14-6 record along with a 3.46 ERA in his first full big-league season although he ended the season on the IL. Bryan Reynolds led the NL in doubles while Brandon Lowe led the team with 35 HR and 96 RBI though he is heading to free agency. But Konnor Griffin and O'Neil Cruz still have their future ahead of them.

To give you an idea of how rare a winning season has been for the Pirates, Don Kelly is only the second Bucs manager since Jim Leyland's departure after the 1992 season to lead the club to a winning record. The other is Clint Hurdle who led the club to three consecutive NL Wild Card appearances between 2013-2015 after 20 consecutive losing seasons as well as the 2018 team.

Of course, there is tremendous uncertainty as to whether part or all of the 2027 season will be lost due an owner-imposed lockout. But this is uncertainty is true for all 30 MLB teams. The Pirates might be sailing in choppy waters, but they are afloat.

UK Green Party Leader Polanski Blames Jews for Anti-Semitism

(UK Green Party leader Zack Polanski seated second from left)

Zack Polanski, the leader of the UK Green Party, is seeking a seat in the House of Commons vacated by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The by-election is set for October 8th.

During a candidates' forum last week in the London constituency of Holborn and St. Pancaras sponsored by the Board of Deputies for British Jews, Polanski received a deservedly cool reception when he claimed that Jews are responsible for the rise of anti-Semitism in the UK:

Many genocide scholars around the world recognise it [Israel’s war in Gaza] as a genocide and calling it that is not antisemitic.

And I think, I think as a Jewish community, we need to come together to recognise that when we call that antisemitic, we are making ourselves as Jewish people less safe.

For starters, characterizing Israel's campaign against Hamas in Gaza as a genocide is certainly anti-Semitic when actual genocides such as China's genocide against Uyghur Muslims or Myanmar's genocide against Rohingya Muslims are ignored. It is also anti-Semitic when the definition of genocide itself is changed for the expressed purpose of justifying such claims against Israel.

If in fact calling out anti-Semitism, be it concerning false accusations of genocide against Israel or any other act which singles out Jews, makes Jews less safe, then that says more about those who engage in anti-Semitic behavior than it does about Jews.

Basically, it's like saying, 'Don't call us anti-Semitic or we will commit violent acts of anti-Semitism against you.'

It's no different than when Elon Musk and Megyn Kelly have publicly blamed Jews for anti-Semitism.

That Polanski himself is Jewish is immaterial. After all, he presides over a party whose candidates openly refer to Jews as cockroaches, justify the October 7th attacks and other acts of violence against Jews such as the Temple Israel attack in Michigan earlier this year.

Despite Polanski's high profile, Holborn and St. Pancaras is Labour's seat to lose. Its candidate is Sagal Abdi-Wali, who is the leader of the Camden Borough Council. For her part, while Abdi-Wali does not identify as a Zionist, she has publicly rejected the notion that Zionism is racism which, of course, Polanski supports. 

But even if Polanski loses the by-election by a decisive margin, the UK Greens have institutionalized anti-Semitism under Polanski's leadership. I suspect this institutionalization is unlikely to change with his successors.

Why El-Sayed Won't Condemn The Iranian Regime

(Screenshot from Instagram)

During a townhall at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, Democratic Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed could not bring himself to condemn the Iranian regime after being confronted by an Iranian student named Iman Dashti whose family members were killed and detained by the regime.

Instead of condemning the Iranian regime, El-Sayed turned his ire against the United States:

While I stand with freedom and democratic movements, I also worry that once you start putting our resources toward regime change in foreign countries, more often than not, the regimes that we seek to change are the ones in which there is a natural resource interest, and it becomes a ploy for the interests of our corporations.

This amounts to a copout. After all, it is President Trump who is on public record as stating, "I never cared about regime change."

El-Sayed casually and falsely accuses Israel of genocide but cannot condemn a regime which gleefully murdered their own populace.

Well, it has to do with the fact the Iranian regime has long supported Hamas, another entity which El-Sayed cannot bring himself to condemn. He cannot condemn Hamas because he is Hamas and Hamas is a proxy of the Iranian regime. Thus El-Sayed's criticisms are confined to the United States and Israel. 

For his part, during a subsequent interview on Fox News, Dashti said:

It's so simple. Say it. Just say you're against the world's largest sponsor of terror. Just say you're against the government who's killed hundreds of thousands of Persians and Americans. But he didn't.

El-Sayed didn't because he doesn't care about Persians and Americans. They are not part of his agenda. As I have previously argued, El-Sayed is "an Islamist with a leftist facade."  

Unfortunately, being an Islamist with a leftist facade might get El-Sayed elected to the U.S. Senate.

Verlander Ends MLB Career By Walking Off Field Hand-in-Hand with His Daughter

(Screenshot of Justin Verlander walking off the field for the last time with his daughter Genevieve)

This afternoon, Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander made his 557th & final MLB start at Comerica Park before a sellout crowd against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Verlander returned to the Tigers back in February with the hope that he would help Tarik Skubal, Framber Valdez and company get over the hump and earn their first World Series title in 42 years.

But it was not to be. Verlander was plagued with injuries all season, Skubal would be traded to the Dodgers and Valdez did not endear himself to his teammates. The Tigers proved to be one of the biggest disappointments in MLB in 2026. By the All-Star Break, Verlander announced this would be his last season.

Verlander pitched serviceably. In 5.1 innings, Verlander surrendered 2 runs on 5 hits, striking out 6 and walking only a single batter. Unfortunately, when Tigers manager A.J. Hinch came to get the ball from him, the Tigers were trailing 2-0 on account of two solo HRs Verlander surrendered to Brandon Lowe in the fourth and Jacob Gonzalez in the fifth.

But the score didn't matter when Verlander's 7-year-old daughter Genevieve ran out onto the field to give her father a hug. The pair walked off the field hand in hand.

Still, the Tigers didn't want to end the day on a losing note. Enter Tigers DH Eduardo Valencia who hit a walk off HR off Pirates closer Mason Montgomery to cap off a 3-run 9th inning to give Detroit a 4-3 win.

In 557 MLB starts, Verlander went 266-159 with a 3.33 ERA along with 3560 career strikeouts in 3576.2 innings pitched. Those 3560 strikeouts are good enough for 8th place on MLB's all-time list. Although that might not be good enough for Verlander's former Tigers and Mets teammate Max Scherzer who is 9th on the list with 3550 strikeouts. Scherzer is scheduled to start for the Toronto Blue Jays against the Cincinnati Reds on the final day of the regular season tomorrow. He has not made a decision whether he will pitch in 2027 pending a possible lockout by the owners.

There might be uncertainty regarding 2026 and 2027 but come 2032 Justin Verlander will be giving a speech in Cooperstown. By then his daughter will be a teenager. I am sure the pair will walk hand in hand.