The 2026 MLB playoff field was nearly halved on Wednesday night. Amid the carnage, the Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees and San Diego Padres were all eliminated. The Cleveland Guardians were the only team trailing in their series that survived to play another day.
The crowning of the next World Series champion is drawing closer, but some fans may feel it is not happening quickly enough. To help satisfy that impatience, we turn to the latest expert predictions and oddsmakers’ lines for a glimpse at what the crystal ball might show.
A First-Time Title in Milwaukee?
Five MLB franchises are still searching for their first World Series title. Several experts from ESPN believe the Milwaukee Brewers could be about to leave 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 predicted the Brewers would “trail in every playoff game en route to a championship,” although Milwaukee has already broken that forecast, as it never trailed in Wednesday’s win.
That is considerable support for a side that has never tasted championship glory, and it is hard to argue that the backing is undeserved. The Brewers won an MLB-best and franchise-record 103 games this season. In the postseason, they boast the highest OPS (.688) and the second-lowest ERA (1.80).
Two-Time Defending Champs Aren’t the Favourites?
Ahead of the postseason, The Athletic asked “more than 20” of its MLB experts for their World Series predictions. The group did not make the Los Angeles Dodgers, winners of the past two World Series, the most popular pick.
The Brewers won the poll with 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 such 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 be returning to Los Angeles.
