The 2026 MLB Playoffs are underway, and this year’s postseason has the potential to be one of the most exciting in recent memory.
The Los Angeles Dodgers enter October as one of the clear favorites after winning the National League West and earning the No. 2 seed. The Dodgers are looking for their third consecutive World Series championship, and SNU students who were asked about the playoffs frequently pointed to the team’s pitching as one of its biggest strengths.
SNU student Ben Fuller expressed high confidence about the Dodgers’ postseason chances.
“It has to be them, right,” Fuller asked. “I mean, the starting pitching, the amount of money they’ve spent, and getting Skubal. It has to be them.”
The Dodgers are led by a star-studded pitching rotation featuring Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and trade-deadline addition Tarik Skubal. That depth and star power make Los Angeles a top contender once again.
However, the Dodgers did not finish with the best record in the National League. That distinction belongs to the Milwaukee Brewers, who earned the No. 1 seed. The Brewers rely heavily on pitching, defense, and small-ball baseball: bunting, stealing bases, and moving runners into scoring position.
SNU third baseman Blake Brinkmeyer believes Milwaukee’s style translates well to playoff baseball.
“I think the Brewers leaning on their pitching and defense, in this new era of baseball, is going to be a big key,” he stated. “Defense and pitching always take over in the playoffs, but this year it seems like it will be more important than ever, and the Brewers excel at those things.”
In the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays earned the No. 1 seed after finishing with the league’s best record. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Guardians earned the No. 2 seed, waiting to see how the AL unfolds.
The biggest surprise in the American League, however, has been the Chicago White Sox. Following back-to-back 100-loss seasons, the White Sox had an unexpected turnaround and reached the postseason. They became the first team to make the playoffs immediately after consecutive 100-loss campaigns.
Dominic Johnson, a White Sox fan, believes Chicago can keep the momentum going deep into October.
“I think we’re going to make a Cinderella run,” he expressed. “I think we’ll get through the Wild Card and go on a run and win the World Series this year.”
With October baseball underway, storylines abound across both leagues. From the Dodgers attempting to make history to the Brewers trying to turn their regular-season success into a championship and the White Sox looking to continue their remarkable turnaround, there are plenty of storylines to follow.
SNU students have locked in their predictions. Now, the playoffs will determine who gets to claim bragging rights.
Photo by: Richie Overcash