It's time for the 2026 MLB playoffs!
The Atlanta Braves got Tuesday's action going with a dramatic come-from-behind win over the Philadelphia Phillies thanks to Austin Riley's three-run blast in the eighth inning. The Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres will square off in the later NL matchup.
In the American League, the Chicago White Sox face the Houston Astros followed by a rivalry showdown between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.
Who will get off to a hot start this postseason? We've got you covered with pregame lineups, sights and sounds from the ballparks and postgame takeaways as each Day 1 matchup ends.
Key links: Mega-preview | Predictions | Bracket | Schedule
Jump to:
Live updates | Takeaways | Lineups
Live updates
We've got you covered with all the best moments from the ballparks on the first day of the playoffs.
White Sox-Astros
Follow live with pitch-by-pitch coverage
Houston fans are NOT happy
Not sure I've ever heard this kind of booing in the second inning of Game 1 of a playoff series. Astros on to their 3rd pitcher. There are no outs in the 2nd. https://t.co/s5jCAaCne2
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) September 29, 2026
White Sox pile on in the 2nd
Sam Antonacci sends one the other way and plates another 2 runs for the @WhiteSox 💪 pic.twitter.com/VPZqtwYYQI
— MLB (@MLB) September 29, 2026
Chicago gets on the board first
Munetaka Murakami gets the @WhiteSox on the board first 💪 pic.twitter.com/QQJT1qib3Q
— MLB (@MLB) September 29, 2026
Takeaways
Atlanta Braves 5, Philadelphia Phillies 3
Atlanta leads series 1-0
It was over when ... Jhoan Duran left a fastball out over the plate and Austin Riley did not miss it. Riley's three-run blast in the eighth inning turned a 3-2 deficit into a 5-3 lead and sent the Atlanta crowd into a frenzy. Three Raisel Iglesias outs later, the Braves were shaking hands one win away from a division series date with the Dodgers.
Star who defined the game: In a game that appeared to be defined by stellar performances by starting pitchers Jesus Luzardo and Chris Sale, Riley stole the show with his dramatic home run.
An even better sign for Atlanta fans: The home run came on a 99.9 mph fastball, the fastest pitch Riley has homered on in his career, regular or postseason. It has been a rough year for the third baseman, who hit just .219 this season, but if he gets going to lengthen the lineup it will make the Braves a much tougher out this postseason. -- Dan Mullen
Key moments from Braves' win
Riley hits go-ahead blast
AUSTIN RILEY
— MLB (@MLB) September 29, 2026
GO-AHEAD THREE-RUN HOMER
ATLANTA IS GOING WILD 🤯 pic.twitter.com/XrPQnazvVO
Phillies reclaim lead on Realmuto's clutch hit
JUST TOOK THE LEAD pic.twitter.com/Wat4jVYt7q
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 29, 2026
Luzardo comes up big for Phillies
Jesús Luzardo just completed five innings of one-run ball in Atlanta, just days after everyone wondered if he'd be available at all in these playoffs.
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) September 29, 2026
Incredible.
Phillies strike first in Atlanta
The first run of the 2026 Postseason belongs to Alec Bohm and the @Phillies 💪 pic.twitter.com/ExbBzlLVnM
— MLB (@MLB) September 29, 2026
Lineups
Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees
8 p.m. ET
Game 1 starters: Payton Tolle vs. Cam Schlittler
Lineups
Red Sox
1. Roman Anthony (L) DH
2. Adley Rutschman (S) C
3. Willson Contreras (R) 1B
4. Wilyer Abreu (L) RF
5. Ceddanne Rafaela (R) CF
6. Nick Sogard (S) 2B
7. Jarren Duran (L) LF
8. Trevor Story (R) SS
9. Caleb Durbin (R) 3B
Yankees
1. Paul Goldschmidt (R) 1B
2. Ben Rice (L) DH
3. Heliot Ramos (R) RF
4. Cody Bellinger (L) LF
5. George Lombard Jr. (R) SS
6. Amed Rosario (R) 3B
7. Anthony Volpe (R) 2B
8. Spencer Jones (L) CF
9. Austin Wells (L) C
Chicago Cubs vs. San Diego Padres
10 p.m. ET
Game 1 starters: Matthew Boyd vs. Michael King
Lineups
Cubs
TBD
Padres
1. Fernando Tatis Jr. (R) RF
2. Samad Taylor (R) LF
3. Manny Machado (R) 3B
4. Ty France (R) 1B
5. Jackson Merrill (L) CF
6. Austin Hays (R) DH
7. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS
8. Jake Cronenworth (L) 2B
9. Luis Campusano (R) C
