The 2026 National League Division Series begin Saturday, October 3, and run through a possible Game 5 on Friday, October 9. Both series are best of five and air on FOX or FS1, with FOX Deportes in Spanish. Milwaukee and the Dodgers have clinched the NL’s top two seeds and the byes that come with them.
| Detail | NLDS |
|---|---|
| Game 1 | Saturday, Oct. 3 |
| Game 5, if needed | Friday, Oct. 9 |
| Format | Best of 5; higher seed hosts Games 1, 2 and 5 |
| TV | FOX or FS1; FOX Deportes |
Matchups
| Series | Matchup |
|---|---|
| NLDS A | No. 1 Brewers vs. winner of No. 4 and No. 5 (currently Padres and Cubs) |
| NLDS B | No. 2 Dodgers vs. winner of No. 3 Braves and No. 6 (currently Phillies) |
Seeds are as of Friday, September 25, with three regular season games left; the live bracket is on the MLB playoff bracket page. Matchups lock Sunday night.
What Comes Next
The two NLDS winners meet in the NLCS, which starts Sunday, October 11, on FOX or FS1.
2026 Postseason at a Glance
| Round | Dates | Format | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Card Series | Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 | Best of 3, higher seed hosts every game | NBC, NBCSN, Peacock |
| ALDS | Oct. 3 to Oct. 10 | Best of 5 | TBS, truTV, HBO Max |
| NLDS | Oct. 3 to Oct. 9 | Best of 5 | FOX or FS1 |
| NLCS | Oct. 11 to Oct. 19 | Best of 7 | FOX or FS1 |
| ALCS | Oct. 12 to Oct. 20 | Best of 7 | TBS, truTV, HBO Max |
| World Series | Oct. 23 to Oct. 31 | Best of 7 | FOX |
Related
MLB playoff bracket · MLB playoff schedule · MLB playoffs TV schedule · Clinch scenarios · World Series odds