MLB Playoff Predictor 2026

This free MLB playoff predictor and bracket simulator lets you pick your 2026 playoff bracket: choose a winner in every series from the Wild Card Series to the World Series, and the bracket fills in the way the real one does, with fixed pairings and byes for the top 2 seeds. Until the regular season ends the seeds are projected from today’s standings, so the matchups shift after every day. Your picks are saved in your browser and the share link carries your whole bracket. Updated Sep 17, 2026 6:10 AM EDT.

The field is projected from today’s standings; matchups update as results come in, and your picks are kept in this browser. Tap a team to advance it. The bracket is fixed: the 4/5 winner meets the No. 1 seed and the 3/6 winner the No. 2 seed.

How the Bracket Simulator Works

1. Pick the Wild Card Series

Tap a team in each matchup (3 v 6, 4 v 5 in both leagues). The top 2 seeds in each league get a bye, so those teams are already through.

2. Follow the fixed bracket

The Division Series fills in the way MLB does it: the 4/5 winner goes to the No. 1 seed and the 3/6 winner to the No. 2 seed. No reseeding.

3. Pick to the World Series

Choose the two league champions and your World Series winner. Changing an earlier pick clears the rounds after it.

4. Share it

Copy the link and your whole bracket travels with it. Picks are also saved in your browser, so you can come back and edit.

The 2026 Field as of Today

AL seeds

  1. Tampa Bay Rays 92-59 · Division winner · bye
  2. Cleveland Guardians 78-75 · Division winner · bye
  3. Texas Rangers 76-76 · Division winner
  4. New York Yankees 88-64 · Wild card
  5. Boston Red Sox 82-70 · Wild card
  6. Chicago White Sox 77-75 · Wild card

NL seeds

  1. Milwaukee Brewers 95-57 · Division winner · bye
  2. Los Angeles Dodgers 92-60 · Division winner · bye
  3. Atlanta Braves 89-64 · Division winner
  4. Chicago Cubs 85-68 · Wild card
  5. Philadelphia Phillies 84-68 · Wild card
  6. San Diego Padres 83-69 · Wild card

Projected from the current standings and updated after every game; the playoff picture shows who is in the hunt for these spots.

Rules the Simulator Follows

  • 12 teams: three division winners (seeds 1-3) and three wild cards (4-6) per league.
  • The top 2 seeds in each league get a bye.
  • Wild Card Series: 3 v 6, 4 v 5; the higher seed hosts every game.
  • No reseeding: the 4/5 winner meets the No. 1 seed, the 3/6 winner the No. 2 seed.
  • Series lengths: best of 3, 5, 7 and 7. World Series home field goes to the pennant winner with the better record.
  • No ties: extra innings until a winner.

Full detail, including tiebreakers, is on the format and rules page. Prefer to see the real thing? The live bracket fills in as games are played.

Use the MLB playoff predictor to test any scenario before the real games are played, then share the link. The official bracket shows what actually happens, and the format page explains the reseeding rule the simulator follows.

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MLB playoff predictor FAQ

How does the predictor decide the Division Series matchups?

Exactly like MLB: the 4/5 winner goes to the No. 1 seed and the 3/6 winner to the No. 2 seed, with no reseeding. Change a Wild Card pick and the later rounds redraw.

Are my picks saved?

Yes, in this browser. “Copy link to my bracket” puts the whole bracket in a link anyone can open.

What do "Higher seeds win" and "Random" do?

Higher seeds win fills the bracket with chalk; Random picks every game by coin flip. Both can be edited afterwards.

Why did the matchups change since last week?

Until the regular season ends the seeds are projected from the standings, so they move with every result.

Is this the same as a playoff machine or bracket simulator?

Yes. It simulates the postseason with the real seeding and bye rules, always starting from the current seeds, and lets you share the finished bracket.

Is the MLB playoff predictor free?

Yes. No sign-up, no app, works on phones and desktops.