MLB Division Series 2026: Schedule, Channels, How to Watch
The Wild Card round is over and eight teams are left. The 2026 MLB Division Series starts on Saturday, October 3, with four Game 1s in a single day, split across two different TV families.
If you just want to know who plays whom, what time, and which channel to turn on, here is the quick guide. All times are Eastern (ET) and come from MLB’s official postseason schedule. Game times can change, so check MLB.com on the day.
How the MLB postseason bracket works
Twelve teams make the playoffs: six from the American League and six from the National League. In each league:
- The top two division winners get a bye and go straight to the Division Series.
- The other four teams play a best-of-three Wild Card Series.
- The two Wild Card Series winners move on to face the two teams that had the bye.
From there the bracket is simple:
| Round | Format |
|---|---|
| Division Series (ALDS and NLDS) | Best of five |
| League Championship Series (ALCS and NLCS) | Best of seven |
| World Series | Best of seven |
There is no re-seeding. Once the bracket is set, the path does not change.
ALDS and NLDS matchups
American League Division Series
- Chicago White Sox at Cleveland Guardians
- New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays
National League Division Series
- Atlanta Braves at Los Angeles Dodgers
- San Diego Padres at Milwaukee Brewers
The team listed second hosts Game 1.
Game 1 schedule: Saturday, October 3
| Time (ET) | Matchup | Series | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:00 p.m. | White Sox at Guardians | ALDS | TBS, truTV |
| 4:00 p.m. | Braves at Dodgers | NLDS | FOX, FS1 |
| 6:30 p.m. | Yankees at Rays | ALDS | TBS, truTV |
| 8:30 p.m. | Padres at Brewers | NLDS | FS1 |
For viewers on the West Coast, subtract three hours: the first game starts at 10:00 a.m. Pacific and the last at 5:30 p.m. Pacific.
After Game 1, the two leagues are on slightly different calendars. Published schedules list NLDS Game 2 on Sunday, October 4 and ALDS Game 2 on Monday, October 5. Start times for later games are announced as the series go on, and Games 4 and 5 are only played if needed.
What channel is each series on?
The easiest way to remember it: American League on TBS, National League on FOX.
ALDS (both series)
- TV: TBS and truTV
- Spanish: UniMas
- Streaming: HBO Max
NLDS (both series)
- TV: FOX and FS1
- Spanish: FOX Deportes
- Streaming: FOX One
Check the listing for each individual game. In the NLDS especially, some games are on FOX and others on FS1.
How to watch without cable
You do not need a traditional cable box to watch the Division Series, but you do need a service that carries the right channels.
- For the ALDS: HBO Max streams the TBS games. Plans and prices vary, so confirm that live sports are included in the plan you choose.
- For the NLDS: FOX One streams FOX and FS1 games. FOX itself is also available free over the air with an antenna in most areas, but FS1 is not.
- Live TV streaming services: several services carry TBS, truTV, FOX and FS1 together. Channel line-ups differ by service and by city, so check before you subscribe.
- Free trials: some services offer them and some do not, and the offers change often. Read the terms and set a reminder if you plan to cancel.
Avoid unofficial streams. They are unreliable and often unsafe.
How to follow on radio and online
- MLB.com/postseason has the official schedule, live scores and the bracket.
- Team radio networks carry every game for their own club.
- MLB Network has studio coverage throughout the postseason.
Key dates for the rest of October
| Round | Starts | TV |
|---|---|---|
| NLCS | October 11 | FOX family of networks |
| ALCS | October 12 | TBS, truTV |
| World Series Game 1 | October 23 | FOX |
| World Series Game 7 (if needed) | October 31 | FOX |
The World Series opens at the home park of the team with the better regular-season record.
Tips for planning your weekend
- Saturday is the big day. With four games from 1:00 p.m. to late evening ET, you can watch playoff baseball for about ten hours straight.
- Two apps, not one. If you stream, you will need access to both the TBS side and the FOX side to see every series.
- Record or set alerts. Playoff games often run past three hours, and a long early game can push coverage of the next one to a secondary channel.
The short version
The 2026 MLB Division Series begins Saturday, October 3. The ALDS (White Sox–Guardians and Yankees–Rays) is on TBS, truTV and HBO Max. The NLDS (Braves–Dodgers and Padres–Brewers) is on FOX, FS1 and FOX One. Each series is best-of-five, the League Championship Series start on October 11 and 12, and the World Series begins on October 23 on FOX.
Sources
- MLB.com, 2026 MLB playoff and World Series schedule: https://www.mlb.com/news/2026-mlb-playoff-and-world-series-schedule
- MLB.com, Division Series matchups: https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-2026-division-series-matchups
- Yahoo Sports, ALDS and NLDS matchups, schedule and start times: https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/mlb-playoffs-2026-alds-nlds-matchups-schedule-and-start-times-030600744.html
Frequently asked questions
- When does the 2026 MLB Division Series start?
- All four Division Series begin on Saturday, October 3, 2026, according to MLB's official postseason schedule.
- What channel is the ALDS on?
- American League Division Series games air on TBS and truTV and stream on HBO Max, with Spanish-language coverage on UniMas.
- What channel is the NLDS on?
- National League Division Series games air on FOX and FS1, with Spanish-language coverage on FOX Deportes and streaming on FOX One.
- How many games are in a Division Series?
- The Division Series is best-of-five. The first team to win three games advances to the League Championship Series.