An Odd Year in the MLB

The 2026 Major League Baseball season delivered unexpected playoff runs and major upsets in a World Series matchup that few fans would have predicted at the beginning of the year. As October wound down, the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays emerged as the final two teams standing, with Milwaukee winning the championship.

The postseason also featured the elimination of some of baseball’s biggest names, as well as a breakthrough for the Chicago White Sox.

The White Sox Make a Statement

One of the most encouraging stories for Chicago baseball fans came from the White Sox, who entered the postseason looking to establish themselves as a team on the rise. The Sox defeated the Houston Astros in two consecutive games in the American League Wildcard Series, winning 6-3 and 7-3 to advance to the next round.

The victory marked the White Sox’s first postseason series win since 2005, when they last won the World Series. They faced the Cleveland Guardians in the Division Series, but the Guardians won three straight games and took the series, demonstrating how quickly momentum can change during October baseball. However, the Sox’s performance gave fans a reason to be optimistic about the team’s future.

The Yankees and Red Sox Meet Again

The American League Wild Card Series featured another chapter in the historic rivalry between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. The Yankees dominated the series, winning 9-0 in the opener and 9-2 in game two, ending the Red Sox’s postseason hopes.

Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays delivered one of the most impressive runs of the American League playoffs. The Rays swept the Yankees in the Division Series, winning all three games, before overcoming the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Championship Series.

The Rays lost the opening game of the championship series but recovered to win four of the next five games. Their two-series victory secured a place in the World Series and established them as one of the season’s biggest surprises.

Milwaukee’s October Magic

The Milwaukee Brewers arguably provided the most dramatic story of the postseason. Milwaukee entered October hoping to turn its regular season success into a championship run, and the team delivered when the pressure was highest.

One of the defining moments came in a game of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres. Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Milwaukee was down to its final opportunity to keep the game alive.

Jackson Chourio delivered two-out, two-strike singles that brought home Christian Yelich and Sal Frelich, giving the Brewers a stunning 4-3 walk-off victory. The comeback became one of the defining highlights of the postseason.

The Brewers eventually eliminated the Padres in four games before facing the Los Angeles Dodgers and shocked the world, sweeping them to move on to the World Series.

A World Series Nobody Could Ignore

The World Series matchup between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays brought together two franchises still searching for the first championship. Both teams demonstrated that a strong team performance and smart roster construction could compete with baseball’s biggest payroll, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Milwaukee opened the series with a 3-2 victory, followed by a 5-4 winning game. The Brewers then delivered their most dominant performance yet, defeating the Rays 10-1 in game three on Oct. 26.

With three consecutive victories, Milwaukee entered game four with a 3-0 series lead. They fell to the Rays 3-4 on Oct. 27 but rallied to win the series in game five. The Brewers won the World Series for the first time in franchise history on Oct. 28, winning 4-1.