MLB Announces Wild Card Broadcast Schedule
There’s little I hate more than West Coast start times, but that’s what the Cubs are stuck with for at least the first two games. Many of you probably don’t think a third game will happen, and that’s fair given how they’ve been playing. Check out the announcement below for all the start times and broadcast information.
Major League Baseball today announced the broadcast schedule for the 2026 Wild Card Series presented by AbbVie. The 2026 Postseason will begin with each of the four Wild Card Series scheduled from Tuesday through Thursday under a best-of-three format, all available across NBC Sports platforms, including NBC, Peacock and NBC Sports Network. Coverage of the Wild Card Series marks the return of Postseason baseball to NBC for the first time since the 2000 ALCS.
The Wild Card Series will be available in Spanish on Universo and Univision, while Univision Radio will provide Spanish language audio coverage. ESPN Radio will provide live national coverage of all 2026 MLB Postseason games, beginning with the Wild Card Series. In addition, MLB Network will air extensive studio coverage throughout the Postseason across the Emmy Award-winning MLB Tonight, the Emmy-nominated MLB Central and MLB Now, and Intentional Talk, MLB Network’s longest-running talk show.
The 2026 Postseason schedule, subject to change, can be viewed in its entirety at MLB.com/postseason.
2026 WILD CARD SERIES
Presented by AbbVie
BROADCAST SCHEDULE
[Subject to Change]
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH
| GAME 1 of WILD CARD SERIES | Time (ET/Site Time) | NETWORKS |
| #6 D-backs or Phillies @ #3 Braves | 2:00 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
| #6 White Sox @
#3 Rangers or Astros |
5:00 p.m./4:00 p.m. | Peacock & NBCSN |
| #5 Red Sox @ #4 Yankees | 8:00 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
| #5 Cubs @ #4 Padres | 10:00 p.m./7:00 p.m. | Peacock & NBCSN |
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH
| GAME 2 of WILD CARD SERIES | Time (ET/Site Time) | NETWORKS |
| #6 D-backs or Phillies @ #3 Braves | 2:00 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
| #6 White Sox @
#3 Rangers or Astros |
5:00 p.m./4:00 p.m. | Peacock & NBCSN |
| #5 Red Sox @ #4 Yankees | 8:00 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
| #5 Cubs @ #4 Padres | 10:00 p.m./7:00 p.m. | Peacock & NBCSN |
Four-Game Scenario:
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1ST
| GAME 3 of WILD CARD SERIES | Time (ET/Site Time) | NETWORKS |
| #6 D-backs or Phillies @ #3 Braves | 2:00 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
| #6 White Sox @
#3 Rangers or Astros |
5:00 p.m./4:00 p.m. | Peacock & NBCSN |
| #5 Red Sox @ #4 Yankees | 8:00 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
| #5 Cubs @ #4 Padres | 10:00 p.m./7:00 p.m. | Peacock & NBCSN |
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1st POTENTIAL SLIDES
Three-Game Scenarios:
| IF BRAVES-D-BACKS/PHILLIES IS OVER | Time (ET/Site Time) | NETWORKS |
| Game 3: #6 White Sox @
#3 Rangers or Astros |
2:00 p.m./1:00 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
| Game 3: #5 Red Sox @ #4 Yankees | 8:00 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
| Game 3: #5 Cubs @ #4 Padres | 10:00 p.m./7:00 p.m. | Peacock & NBCSN |
| IF PADRES-CUBS IS OVER | Time (ET/Site Time) | NETWORKS |
| Game 3: #6 D-backs/Phillies @
#3 Braves |
2:00 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
| Game 3: #6 White Sox @
#3 Rangers or Astros |
5:00 p.m./4:00 p.m. | Peacock & NBCSN |
| Game 3: #5 Red Sox @ #4 Yankees | 8:00 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
| IF YANKEES-RED SOX IS OVER | Time (ET/Site Time) | NETWORKS |
| Game 3: #6 D-backs/Phillies @
#3 Braves |
2:00 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
| Game 3: #6 White Sox @
#3 Rangers or Astros |
5:00 p.m./4:00 p.m. | Peacock & NBCSN |
| Game 3: #5 Cubs @ #4 Padres | 8:00 p.m./5:00 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
| IF RANGERS/ASTROS-WHITE SOX IS OVER | Time (ET/Site Time) | NETWORKS |
| Game 3: #6 D-backs/Phillies @
#3 Braves |
2:00 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
| Game 3: #5 Red Sox @ #4 Yankees | 8:00 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
| Game 3: #5 Cubs @ #4 Padres | 10:00 p.m./7:00 p.m. | Peacock & NBCSN |
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1st POTENTIAL SLIDES
Two-Game Scenarios:
| IF BOS @ NYY and CWS @ TEX/HOU
ARE OVER |
Time (ET/Site Time) | NETWORKS |
| Game 3: #6 D-backs/Phillies @
#3 Braves |
2:00 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
| Game 3: #5 Cubs @ #4 Padres | 8:00 p.m./5:00 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
| IF AZ/PHI @ ATL and CHC @ SD
ARE OVER |
Time (ET/Site Time) | NETWORKS |
| Game 3: #6 White Sox @
#3 Rangers/Astros |
2:00 p.m./1:00 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
| Game 3: #5 Red Sox @ #4 Yankees | 8:00 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
| IF BOS @ NYY and AZ/PHI @ ATL
ARE OVER |
Time (ET/Site Time) | NETWORKS |
| Game 3: #6 White Sox @
#3 Rangers/Astros |
2:00 p.m./1:00 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
| Game 3: #5 Cubs @ #4 Padres | 8:00 p.m./5:00 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
| IF BOS @ NYY and CHC @ SD
ARE OVER |
Time (ET/Site Time) | NETWORKS |
| Game 3: #6 White Sox @
#3 Rangers/Astros |
2:00 p.m./1:00 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
| Game 3: #6 D-backs/Phillies @
#3 Braves |
8:00 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
| IF CWS @ TEX/HOU and
AZ/PHI @ ATL ARE OVER |
Time (ET/Site Time) | NETWORKS |
| Game 3: #5 Red Sox @ #4 Yankees | 7:00 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
| Game 3: #5 Cubs @ #4 Padres | 9:30 p.m./6:30 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
| IF CWS @ TEX/HOU and
CHC @ SD ARE OVER |
Time (ET/Site Time) | NETWORKS |
| Game 3: #6 D-backs/Phillies @
#3 Braves |
2:00 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
| Game 3: #5 Red Sox @ #4 Yankees | 8:00 p.m. | NBC & Peacock |
Any One-Game Scenario:
If Thursday, October 1st has only one Game Three, then it will be played at 8:00 p.m. (ET) on NBC and Peacock.
