MLB Postseason Roundup: Dodgers, Brewers, and Rays Advance, While Guardians Stay Alive

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The MLB League Championship Series picture is almost clear following a dramatic day of postseason baseball.

Three teams successfully went on the road to punch their tickets to the next round, officially setting the stage for a massive National League Championship Series clash between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers. Meanwhile, in the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays completed a dominant sweep and now await the winner of the AL Central rivalry, as the Cleveland Guardians finally woke up to stave off elimination.

Here is a detailed breakdown of how the Dodgers, Brewers, and Rays closed out their series, and how Cleveland kept its season alive.

ALDS: Guardians 9, White Sox 3 (White Sox lead 2-1)

Facing a humiliating sweep at the hands of their division rivals, the Cleveland Guardians’ dormant offense finally exploded.

After managing just seven hits total across the first two games in Cleveland, the Guardians marched into Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago and ambushed the White Sox pitching staff. Cleveland erupted for a massive 9-3 victory to cut the series deficit to 2-1 and force a Game 4.

The middle of the Cleveland lineup came alive. Third baseman José Ramírez broke out of his slump in a massive way, launching a three-run home run in the third inning to set the tone. First baseman Nathaniel Lowe added a two-run double in the fifth to break the game wide open. Cleveland’s pitching, led by starter Tanner Bibee, was stellar. Bibee tossed six strong innings, allowing just two runs on four hits while striking out seven, completely silencing the raucous Chicago crowd and keeping the Guardians’ championship hopes alive.

We will see you tomorrow night(?).

#GuardsBall | #GuardiWins https://t.co/rFk2eBDZQD

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) October 7, 2026

NLDS: Dodgers Close Out the Braves in Atlanta

Series Status: Dodgers win 3-1

The two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers are heading back to the NLCS. Relying on their championship pedigree, the Dodgers went into Truist Park and methodically closed out the Atlanta Braves on their home field, securing a 3-1 series victory.

Los Angeles leaned on a brilliant, collective pitching performance to navigate the dangerous Atlanta lineup. Starter Tyler Glasnow delivered five solid innings, surrendering just two earned runs, before turning it over to a dominant Dodgers bullpen that pitched four frames of flawless, scoreless relief.

Offensively, the Dodgers used a balanced attack. Mookie Betts was the catalyst, finishing 2-for-4 with a crucial RBI double in the sixth inning that gave Los Angeles the lead for good. The Braves simply couldn’t string together enough consecutive hits to mount a comeback, ending their resilient season and cementing the Dodgers as the team to beat in the National League.

NLDS: Brewers Finish Off the Padres in San Diego

Series Status: Brewers win 3-1

The Milwaukee Brewers proved exactly why they posted a franchise-record 103 wins in the regular season. After dropping Game 3, the Brewers bounced back on the road at Petco Park, eliminating the San Diego Padres in Game 4 to secure the series victory.

The storyline of the closeout game was the Brewers’ suffocating bullpen and timely power hitting. After San Diego took an early lead, Milwaukee center fielder Jackson Chourio delivered the defining blow—a massive two-run home run in the seventh inning to put the Brewers ahead permanently.

From there, Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy turned to his elite bullpen. Devin Williams was absolutely electric in the ninth inning, striking out the side to secure the save and end the Padres’ season. The victory sets up a highly anticipated NLCS showdown against the Dodgers.

ALDS: Rays Sweep the Yankees in the Bronx

Series Status: Rays win 3-0

The Tampa Bay Rays pulled off one of the postseason’s biggest upsets, going to Yankee Stadium and finishing off a dominant three-game sweep of the New York Yankees.

New York’s disastrous defensive woes from Game 2 carried into Game 3, and the Rays capitalized. Tampa Bay’s small-ball approach continued to frustrate the Yankees, with Yandy Díaz and Junior Caminero each driving in critical runs with two-out, situational hitting.

Rays starting pitcher Shane Baz was phenomenal, tossing six shutout innings and completely neutralizing New York’s power threats. Aaron Judge and Juan Soto were held hitless on the evening, effectively closing the book on a bitterly disappointing end to the Yankees’ season. Tampa Bay now advances to the ALCS and awaits the winner of the Guardians-White Sox series.