MLB Playoffs 2026: Picks and predictions for every round, including World Series champ

The 2026 MLB postseason predictions lay out a round-by-round forecast that leans heavily on baseball probabilities while admitting how unpredictable playoff outcomes can be. The piece’s author uses an extended analogy to highlight the randomness of a postseason chase, then narrows to how playoff-series samples are small enough that even “good luck” can swing results. In the Wild Card Round, the article predicts the Boston Red Sox will beat the New York Yankees 2 games to 1, citing uncertainty around Aaron Judge’s status and claiming Boston’s lineup is stronger. It also forecasts the White Sox over the Astros 2 games to 1, mainly on “principle” and noting the Astros’ poor season record, stated as 81-81 in the excerpt. The predictions are positioned as a data-informed “final exam,” particularly for the author’s preferred analytics approach.