MLB Playoff Preview: World Series Odds, MVP Contenders and Outlooks for All 12 Teams

Major League Baseball's 2026 postseason field has been set, with 12 teams now preparing for a run at the World Series, according to an ESPN preview of the playoffs.

The preview examines World Series odds, potential MVP candidates, and how far each of the 12 playoff teams might realistically advance, offering fans a broad look at the postseason landscape as October play approaches.

MLB's expanded playoff format means teams enter the postseason with varying paths depending on seeding, with higher-seeded clubs generally holding an advantage in the early rounds. ESPN's analysis frames the coming weeks as high-stakes for all 12 clubs, given how quickly postseason series can turn on a small number of games.

The report is designed to help fans gauge realistic expectations for each team, from those seen as legitimate championship contenders to clubs viewed as more likely to be eliminated in the early rounds, according to the preview's framing.

Specific team names, individual odds figures, and named MVP candidates were not included in the excerpt available from the source material, and further detail on separate series matchups was not provided.

As the playoffs get underway, closer analysis of individual series is expected to sharpen predictions about which teams are best positioned to make a deep October run.