MLB Playoff Schedule: September Matchups for Every Postseason Contender

The MLB playoff schedule enters its final month as the Rays face the Mets and Braves while the Phillies navigate a schedule featuring the Astros and Nationals.

ESPN authors released the remaining strength of schedule for every MLB postseason hopeful on September 2, 2026, at 07:00 AM ET. The analysis utilizes the winning percentage of remaining opponents to determine the difficulty of the path to October. The Tampa Bay Rays face a September slate featuring the Mets, Astros, A's, and Red Sox at home, alongside road trips to the Rangers, Braves, Yankees, and Phillies.

In the American League East, the Baltimore Orioles must navigate away games against the Rockies, Blue Jays, Mets, and Yankees. Their home schedule includes the Red Sox, Guardians, Brewers, and a second series with the Blue Jays. The Houston Astros host the White Sox, Diamondbacks, Royals, and Braves, while traveling to face the Phillies, Rays, Mariners, and A's.

American League Contender Matchups

The Boston Red Sox schedule consists of home matchups against the Mariners, Angels, Royals, and Guardians. They will travel to Baltimore, Texas, Tampa Bay, and Chicago to play the Cubs. For the New York Yankees, the final stretch includes road series against the Angels, Padres, Twins, and Diamondbacks, complemented by home games against the Rockies, Mets, Rays, and Orioles.

The Cleveland Guardians host the Blue Jays, Tigers, Orioles, White Sox, and A's. Their road schedule is limited to the Twins and Red Sox. The Minnesota Twins will play the Tigers twice—once at home and once away—in addition to hosting the Guardians, Yankees, and Rangers. Their remaining road games are against the White Sox, Angels, and Giants.

AL West and Central Road Maps

The Toronto Blue Jays face a heavy road schedule with trips to the Guardians, Royals, A's, Rangers, and Orioles. They host the Orioles, Tigers, and Reds. The Chicago White Sox will visit the Astros, Cardinals, Guardians, and Royals, while playing the Twins, Pirates, Tigers, and Rockies at their home stadium.

The Seattle Mariners have a schedule that includes road games against the Red Sox, A's, Angels, and Rockies. Their home slate features the A's, Rangers, Astros, and a second series against the Angels.

National League Strength of Schedule

The Philadelphia Phillies face a concentrated schedule against the Diamondbacks, Braves, Astros, and Nationals, including two separate series against Atlanta. The Chicago Cubs host the Brewers, Pirates, and Braves, with road trips scheduled for the Marlins, Brewers, Reds, and Red Sox.

The Atlanta Braves will travel to the Nationals, Phillies, Cubs, and Astros. Their home schedule includes the Phillies, Rays, and Reds. The Milwaukee Brewers have a road-heavy finish with trips to the Cubs, Reds, Pirates, Orioles, and Phillies, while hosting the Cubs and Reds.

The Arizona Diamondbacks host the Phillies, Royals, Rangers, Marlins, and Yankees. Their away schedule consists of the Astros, Rockies, and Padres. Finally, the Los Angeles Dodgers play the Cardinals, Nationals, Reds, Giants, and Padres at home, with road games against the Marlins, Reds, and Giants.