They are now split by two games in each of the four series in the 2026 Major League Baseball playoffs and the three series-leading teams have no two games to spare. It’s a maximum of five rounds, so he’s almost aiming for three in a row.
Three teams in that 2-0 hole — Rangers, Padres and Yankees — what are their best shots to come in and win?
Before considering and ranking their chances, it is necessary to say that the whole thing is a long shot for any of these three teams to win. It is likely that all three will lose the series. Only 10 teams have ever come back from 2-0 down in a five-game series in MLB history, with the most recent being the 2017 Yankees. This has only happened three times since 2003.
3. San Diego Padres
They used Michael King in Game 2, having run through all the big guns of the bullpen in the first two games and still with none. This definitely feels above. I like it a lot when the Brewers got a runner on base and stole second in the ninth, they feel inevitable here after a 103 game regular season and so many comebacks, not to mention winning anyone, the way they need to in any game.
In the end, the Padres returned home to Petco Park, which was Central Vibes in the Wild Card Series against the Cubs. Nick Pivetta looked pretty good, and with a shutout day between Games 2 and 3, the Padres will have a full complement of bullpen weapons ready for Game 3. Win one game and you never know, right?
It should also be noted that the Brewers saw a sharp drop in starting pitching after Games 1 and 2 in starters Jacob Misiorowski and Logan Henderson.
While the streak is most likely ending with the Brewers, it is certainly in the “tell my luck?” comprehensive
2. Cleveland Guards
I’m a stronger believer in the Padres than the Rangers, but here’s a different story, because the Rangers put up an 84-win regular season team, while the Padres play the mighty Brewers. The White Sox are a good team, but definitely not a great one. They usually survive in bullpen games and have done a great job, going 4-0 in the playoffs so far. Simple logic tells us, however, that an 84-win team that went 4-0 on the road in the playoffs means that progress is coming at some point, right?
Of course, he didn’t go back and forth. The Rangers aren’t exactly playmakers in their own right, with an 85-win regular season team.
With Parker waiting for Messick in Game 4, the Guardians winning Game 3 would be a good chance to extend this streak to Game 5. Then again, Messick started Game 1 and the Guardians lost one.
In addition, there have been six head-to-head games between these teams in Chicago this season and the White Sox have taken four of the six.
Again, the Padres are favored by the Rangers because they put up a far inferior opponent, but it’s a bigger uphill battle. This is likely the outcome that the White Sox will get the job done at home.
1. Yankees
Down 2-0 in three quarters, the Yankees had the best record in the regular season, with the best run differential. The Red Sox have won two games in the Wild Card Series by a combined record of 18-2. They have Max Fried waiting to start Game 3 here in the ALDS and will be able to go with Carlos Rodon and some combination of Gerrit Cole and Cam Schlittler in Game 5 if they can extend the series. That’s a pretty darn good set up.
Also, Fried and Rodon are left, and the Rays are significantly worse against pitchers (.751 OPS vs. RHP, .678 vs. LHP). Here is the opening.
New York’s offense fell apart in Tampa Bay and credit must be given to the Rays’ pitching staff. Returning home should help the Yankees, at least in theory. They had an OPS of .755 at home, .688 on the road in the regular season. Also, while the overall numbers are very good, Rays Game 3 starter Nick Martinez has a 4.24 ERA in his last nine starts. The Yankees saw him and sent him on Sept. 22. they beat the Yankees — though only 2-0 — and it wasn’t exactly bloody.
Down 2-0 in three games, the Yankees are, in my opinion, the most likely to come back and win their series. They are also the most likely to lose the series.