MLB playoff predictions: Dodgers’ age and extra workload flagged as risks ahead of wildcard round
The Guardian’s sports writers on 29 September 2026 published MLB playoff predictions ahead of the postseason’s wildcard round, assessing contenders including the Dodgers, Rays, Brewers, Mariners and others. They named dark horses, identified high seeds vulnerable to early exits and supplied series picks from multiple contributors.
The piece noted the Seattle Mariners finished 76-86 after coming within a single win of reaching the World Series last October, describing that outcome as a wasted opportunity for a lineup featuring Julio Rodríguez, Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena. It added that the Pittsburgh Pirates dug too deep a hole in August and missed a chance to contend despite the potential contributions of Konnor Griffin at shortstop and Paul Skenes on the mound. The article also referenced Pete Alonso’s 43-home-run season and said the Mets’ president of baseball operations, David Stearns, did not offer Alonso a contract, leaving that storyline dormant until a would-be 2027 season.
The American League’s No 2 seed was described as an 85-win division champion with a plus-11 run differential and FanGraphs suggested the club was closer to a .500 team; the writers noted the Guardians possess pitching suited to close games but lack a batter with 20 home runs. Several contributors flagged the Dodgers’ roster age and recent workload as specific vulnerabilities: the team’s average roster age is 31, making them the oldest in MLB, and they had to play an extra 31 games over the prior two postseasons. AK wrote that those factors, along with variance, meant the Dodgers could finally face consequences despite having “no big weaknesses.”
On the Yankees, one writer warned that with Aaron Judge absent the lineup struggles to produce runs against strong Boston pitching and suggested the club could exit the postseason early, adding that they could “find themselves bronzing in Cancún sooner rather than later.” The Cubs were described as possessing baseball’s best offense and defense but hampered by “leaky relief pitching,” with Pete Crow-Armstrong and Alex Bregman cited as offensive strengths provided the bullpen can “keep the ball in the park.”
The Tampa Bay Rays were repeatedly characterized as dark horses even while winning the AL East; questions over Shane McClanahan’s availability were noted alongside the deadline acquisition of Freddy Peralta from the Mets, which writers said added rotation depth. Bag argued Tarik Skubal arriving in October would be the centerpiece of what was called baseball’s most formidable rotation and that every start would be judged against the price the Dodgers paid to acquire him in their bid for a rare third straight title.
Writers highlighted individual Rays contributors: Chandler Simpson was described as a defense-, speed- and batting average–heavy corner outfielder who lacks power but provides variety, while Junior Caminero was noted for “crushing close to 90 home runs in two years,” for hitting for average and for being 23. The article also warned of labor uncertainty, reporting the collective bargaining agreement expires on 1 December, that MLB’s salary-cap proposal remains at odds with the players’ position, and that a lockout could freeze the hot-stove market or a prolonged dispute could “torpedo the 2027 season.”
Several series picks were published: multiple writers chose the Rays over the White Sox. AK outlined that a Dodgers rotation featuring Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, plus Shohei Ohtani’s power, gives Los Angeles four starters capable of shutting down Tampa’s contact-oriented lineup; BAG countered that while Milwaukee and Tampa Bay may grade out better analytically, the “smell test” favored the Dodgers to become only the third franchise to win three consecutive World Series crowns. Predictions for Milwaukee noted Jacob Misiorowski as a rotation trump card and listed high-leverage relievers Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe and Aaron Ashby as late-inning assets.
A vocal reaction to playoff qualification rules closed the commentary: “The team with the best above-.500 record not to qualify for the playoffs, regardless of league, will replace that team, and the sub-.500 bums will not be allowed to complain AT ALL. And God forbid the Astros win the 2026 World Series, I will pull whatever is left of my hair out. Who’s with me?” DL
Those assessments and picks were submitted ahead of the postseason’s wildcard round, the opening stage of the playoffs when the teams and matchups discussed will begin play.