Four Teams, Two Pennants: Previewing the ALCS and NLCS Matchups

By Will Dzurnak | Great Lakes Sports Network

The road to the 2026 World Series has narrowed to four teams, with the American and National League Championship Series set to begin this week.

The Cleveland Guardians, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers are the last remaining clubs in a postseason that has already featured historic pitching performances, dramatic comebacks and several surprising eliminations.

In the American League, Cleveland will look to carry the momentum of its remarkable comeback against the Chicago White Sox into a matchup with top-seeded Tampa Bay. Meanwhile, the National League will feature a rematch of last year’s championship series, as Milwaukee attempts to dethrone the defending champion Dodgers.

Both best-of-seven series will determine which two teams advance to the World Series, scheduled to begin October 23. (MLB.com)

ALCS Preview: Cleveland Guardians vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Game 1: Monday, October 12 | 8:00 p.m. ET | Tropicana Field

Few teams enter the League Championship Series with more momentum than the Cleveland Guardians.

After falling behind 2-0 against the Chicago White Sox in the American League Division Series, Cleveland responded with three consecutive victories to complete one of the most memorable postseason comebacks in franchise history.

The Guardians capped their comeback Saturday night with a 2-0 victory in Game 5, highlighted by a historic pitching performance that saw Cleveland’s staff combine for 21 strikeouts, setting a Major League Baseball record for a nine-inning game.

Gavin Williams led the charge with 12 strikeouts across 5⅔ scoreless innings, while José Ramírez provided the game’s only offense with a two-run home run.

Cleveland’s ability to respond under pressure has become one of its defining characteristics this season. After overcoming a significant deficit in the American League Central standings to capture its third consecutive division title, the Guardians have carried that same resilience into October. (MLB.com)

Standing in Cleveland’s way is a Tampa Bay Rays team that has been among the American League’s most consistent clubs throughout the season.

The Rays secured the league’s top postseason seed and made quick work of the New York Yankees in the ALDS, completing a three-game sweep to advance to the ALCS.

Unlike Cleveland, Tampa Bay enters the series with several additional days of rest, an advantage that could prove significant for its starting rotation and bullpen.

The Rays also dominated the regular-season series against Cleveland, winning five of their six meetings. While regular-season results do not always translate into postseason success, Tampa Bay has already demonstrated its ability to neutralize the Guardians’ offense. (NBC Sports)

For Cleveland, the key to advancing will likely come down to its pitching staff’s ability to maintain the dominance displayed against Chicago.

Williams, Tanner Bibee and the Guardians’ bullpen will be tasked with slowing a Tampa Bay lineup that has consistently found ways to manufacture runs. Meanwhile, Ramírez will remain the centerpiece of Cleveland’s offensive attack, with Steven Kwan and the rest of the lineup needing to provide consistent production.

One of the more intriguing aspects of the matchup is the contrast in preparation. Tampa Bay enters well-rested after its sweep, while Cleveland arrives having played three consecutive elimination games.

The Guardians have already proven capable of overcoming adversity, but facing the American League’s top seed presents another significant challenge.

Cleveland is seeking its first World Series appearance since 2016, while Tampa Bay hopes to return to the Fall Classic for the first time since 2020.

With both organizations relying heavily on pitching, defense and timely offensive production, the ALCS has the potential to develop into a closely contested series where a handful of runs could ultimately determine the American League champion.

NLCS Preview: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Game 1: Sunday, October 11 | 8:00 p.m. ET | American Family Field

For the second consecutive postseason, the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers will meet with a National League pennant on the line.

Last October, Los Angeles swept Milwaukee in four games to advance to the World Series. This season, however, the Brewers enter the matchup with home-field advantage and an opportunity to reverse the outcome.

Milwaukee finished the regular season with a franchise-record 103 victories, establishing itself as one of baseball’s most complete teams.

The Brewers advanced past the San Diego Padres in four games during the NLDS, relying on timely hitting and strong pitching performances to secure their return to the championship series.

Jackson Chourio has continued to emerge as one of Milwaukee’s most important postseason contributors. The young outfielder delivered a walk-off hit against San Diego in Game 2 and has already established himself among the franchise’s most productive October performers.

Alongside veterans Christian Yelich and William Contreras, Chourio gives Milwaukee an offensive foundation capable of challenging even the most talented pitching staffs. (MLB.com)

Los Angeles, meanwhile, enters the NLCS pursuing something rarely accomplished in modern baseball: a third consecutive World Series championship.

The Dodgers eliminated the Atlanta Braves in four games during the Division Series, continuing their pursuit of another championship behind one of the most talented rosters in Major League Baseball.

With Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy anchoring the lineup, Los Angeles possesses the offensive firepower to change a game with a single swing.

However, Ohtani’s recent offensive struggles have created an interesting storyline heading into the series. After an unusually quiet performance against Atlanta, the three-time MVP will look to rediscover the production that has made him one of baseball’s most dangerous hitters.

The Dodgers’ starting rotation could prove equally important.

Los Angeles features an imposing group led by Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, providing manager Dave Roberts with several high-level options throughout a potential seven-game series.

Skubal is expected to start Game 1 against Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski, setting up an intriguing opening matchup between two powerful arms. (MLB.com)

For Milwaukee, the challenge will be finding ways to generate consistent offense against a Dodgers rotation that has the potential to control an entire series.

The Brewers managed just one run per game during last year’s NLCS sweep, a statistic they will be determined to improve upon this October.

Milwaukee did win the 2026 regular-season series against Los Angeles, taking four of seven meetings, including three victories during an important August series at Dodger Stadium.

That success provides some encouragement for a Brewers team attempting to reach its first World Series since 1982.

The Dodgers, however, have eliminated Milwaukee in each of their previous three postseason meetings, including the 2018 and 2025 NLCS and the 2020 Wild Card Series.

While Los Angeles enters with considerably more recent postseason experience, Milwaukee has assembled a roster capable of competing with baseball’s most accomplished teams.

The Brewers will have the benefit of opening the series at American Family Field, where their ability to generate offensive pressure and capitalize on scoring opportunities could be particularly important.

For Los Angeles, the objective remains unchanged: continue its postseason dominance and move one step closer to establishing one of the most successful championship runs in recent MLB history.

Two Very Different Paths to the World Series

Although all four remaining teams are just four victories away from reaching the World Series, their journeys to this point have been considerably different.

Cleveland enters the ALCS following an exhausting five-game series that required three consecutive elimination victories. Tampa Bay, by comparison, advanced with a commanding sweep and will have the advantage of additional rest.

In the National League, Milwaukee hopes to turn its franchise-record regular season into a long-awaited World Series appearance, while Los Angeles continues its pursuit of a third straight championship.

Both matchups present compelling questions.

Can Cleveland’s pitching staff maintain its historic postseason form against the American League’s top seed? Will Tampa Bay’s rest and regular-season success translate into another series victory?

Can Milwaukee finally overcome the Dodgers after years of postseason frustration? Or will Los Angeles once again demonstrate why it has become the standard for sustained success in the National League?

The answers will begin unfolding Sunday night in Milwaukee, followed by the opening game of the ALCS on Monday in Tampa Bay.

By the time the two series conclude, only two teams will remain in pursuit of baseball’s ultimate prize.

And with the way October has unfolded so far, there is little reason to believe the road to the World Series will be predictable.