Wednesday night nearly halved the 2026 MLB playoff field. The Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees and San Diego Padres were all eliminated, while the Cleveland Guardians were the only team trailing in a deficit that survived to play another day.
The next World Series champion is still weeks away, but impatient fans can get a head start. Expert predictions and oddsmakers’ lines offer a glimpse into the crystal ball.
A First-Time Title in Milwaukee?
Five MLB franchises have never won a World Series. A few experts at ESPN think the Milwaukee Brewers could remove themselves from that group.
In a recent batch of bold playoff predictions, three of ESPN’s experts built their forecasts around the Brewers winning big. Tristan Cockcroft called for Milwaukee’s breakout star, Jackson Chourio, to “become the 10th player to win LCS and World Series MVPs.” Eric Karabell predicted a combined no-hitter from Jacob Misiorowski, Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill in Game 1 of the World Series. AJ Mass had predicted the Brewers would “trail in every playoff game en route to a championship,” but Milwaukee has already broken that forecast, as it never trailed in Wednesday’s win.
That is considerable backing for a squad that has never tasted championship glory, and it is hard to call that support undeserved. The Brewers won an MLB-best and franchise-record 103 games this season. This postseason, they boast the highest OPS (.688) and the second-lowest ERA (1.80).
Two-Time Defending Champs Aren’t the Favourites?
Before the postseason began, The Athletic asked “more than 20” of its MLB experts to make World Series predictions. That group did not make the Los Angeles Dodgers, winners of the past two World Series, the most popular pick.
The Brewers ran away with the poll, earning 56 percent of the vote. The Tampa Bay Rays finished second with 24 percent, while the Dodgers received just 16 percent. The Brewers and Rays are both credible picks, but that still represents less support than many would expect for a club with this much star power and this level of recent dominance.
“No team carries as much October hype as Los Angeles,” Katie Woo wrote. “There are rightful concerns over the drop-off in production from Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman, but their rotation of aces should carry them through any qualms on the offence. It’s the Dodgers’ title to lose, and they know it.”
Oddsmakers agree with that assessment. However, if the majority of Woo’s colleagues are right, this year’s title will not return to Los Angeles.