The 2026 World Series is almost on deck, with the Dodgers, Brewers, Guardians and Rays still standing after a long October climb. The 122nd Fall Classic opens Friday, Oct. 23, and a full seven-game ride would carry baseball to Halloween night.
The National League champion will own the home field, whether it is Los Angeles or Milwaukee. Both clubs finished the regular season ahead of Cleveland and Tampa Bay, putting Games 1, 2, 6 and 7, if needed, in the NL park.
Quick facts
- World Series Game 1 is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23.
- Game 7, if necessary, is set for Saturday, Oct. 31.
- FOX and FOX Deportes will air every game, with FOX One carrying the stream.
- Game times have not yet been announced.
- The NLCS features the Dodgers and Brewers; the ALCS has the Guardians against the Rays.
Los Angeles enters the NLCS as the two-time reigning World Series champion, chasing another October banner. The Dodgers own nine championships, tied for the third-highest total among Major League franchises.
Milwaukee brings the best regular-season record among the remaining clubs at 103-59, just ahead of the Dodgers at 100-62. The Brewers are still searching for their first World Series title.
On the American League side, Tampa Bay finished 98-64 and also has never won the World Series. Cleveland reached October after an 85-77 season, ranking 11th in the Majors by record, but carries the heavier historical burden: its last championship came in 1948, the longest active title drought in the game.
The road map is set once the pennants are decided. The AL winner will host Games 3, 4 and 5, if the series requires all three. Then the Series would return to the National League champion’s ballpark for Games 6 and 7, should the clubs still be trading punches.
For now, four clubhouses remain open. One will soon be packing for the Fall Classic, where a Dodgers repeat bid, a Brewers breakthrough, a Rays first or Cleveland’s long-awaited return to the top will be waiting on the other side.
