MLB Pennant Races, Key Games and 2026 World Series Odds

The push to the pennant and MLB postseason continues into the final two weeks of the regular season. The 2026 division races are producing historically bad division champions in the American League as the teams play the final 10-12 games. Let’s take a look at the standings, division and wild card races, along with some key games and look ahead at the World Series odds.

The push towards the #MLBPlayoffs & Pennant. Standings with just 11-12 games remaining. Wild Card chase tight in historically bad American League. Current #WorldSeries odds to win @BetMGM pic.twitter.com/RaDq1a5oMV

— Fairway Jay (@FairwayJay) September 15, 2026

Key AL games and schedules

The weaker AL Central and AL West shows the White Sox leading the Guardians by 1.5 games and Astros leading the Rangers by 1.5 games. The Rays and Yankees have clinched playoff sports with Tampa Bay holding a 3.5 game lead in the AL East, where the Red Sox will clinch a wild card soon. The Blue Jays are 1.0 games behind the Guardians for the final wild card spot and the Rangers just 1.5 games behind.   

American League teams have been tracking towards historic lows over the past month. The Astros currently lead the AL West with a .500 record at 75-75. The worst full season division champion record in MLB history is 82-80 by the 2005 San Diego Padres. 

Worst to First

The Chicago White Sox opened the season at 500/1 odds at select online sportsbooks offering the best cash bonuses to cash in on the White Sox ahead of the 2026 season. Now the South Siders are in position to win the division following historically bad seasons the past two years winning just 60 games last season and all-time worst 41 games in 2024 while setting the MLB record for most losses (121) in a single 162-game season. The White Sox are currently in the best position to win the AL Central with 2 games remaining against top chaser Cleveland, and the White Sox are also ahead of the Astros for a first round playoff bye with Tampa Bay if they can hold off the Guardians. Chicago plays their remaining 10 games against some of the worst teams in baseball, Detroit, Kansas City and Colorado at home to finish the regular season Sept. 25-27. The Astros final four games are against near AL-worst Athletics in Sacramento. 

The Rays and Yankees have a huge 4-game series that includes a double-header at Yankee Stadium Sept. 22-24 with the Bronx Bombers chasing the AL-East leading Rays. 

Sept. 15-16: Chicago at Cleveland
Sept 15-17: Boston at Texas
Sept. 18-20: Boston at Tampa Bay, Atlanta at Houston, Toronto at Texas, NY Yankees at Arizona 
Sept. 22-24: Tampa Bay at New York (4), Cleveland at Boston, Houston at Seattle (2)
Sept. 25-27: Cleveland at Kansas City, Texas at Minnesota, Baltimore at NY Yankees, Chicago Cubs at Boston, Tampa Bay at Philadelphia 

Key NL games and schedules

The National League is loaded, and the Dodgers remain the betting favorites to win their third-consecutive World Series title. The Brewers have the best record in baseball, and Milwaukee is going to win their fourth consecutive NL Central title and fifth in the last six years. The Braves, Cubs and Phillies are strong NL playoff entrants, while the Padres and Diamondbacks will decide the final wild card spot over the final 11-12 games. A key 3-game series at San Diego to close the regular season looms as potentially most pivitol to the playoffs for the D'backs and Padres. 

Sept. 15-16: Atlanta at Chicago Cubs
Sept 17-20: Philadelphia at NY Mets
Sept 18-20: NY Yankees at Arizona, Atlanta at Houston
Sept. 22-24: Milwaukee at Philadelphia, San Diego at Los Angeles Dodgers
Sept 25-27: LA Dodgers at San Francisco, Arizona at San Diego, Tampa Bay at Philadelphia, St. Louis at Milwaukee, Chicago Cubs at Boston 

World Series Odds

Betting lines and MLB odds from BetOnline and top online sportsbooks refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting. Current odds as of Sept. 15. 

+225: Dodgers
+600: Brewers
+800: Yankees
+1100: Rays
+1400: Braves
+1500: Phillies
+1600: Red Sox
+1800: Cubs
+2200: Astros
+2800: White Sox
+3300: Padres, Guardians, Blue Jays
+6000: Diamondbacks
+7500: Rangers
+10000: Mariners 

Pennant favorites in the National League include: Dodgers (+140), Brewers (+310), Braves (+700), Phillies (+800), Cubs (+1000), Padres (+1600). American League: Yankees (+310), Rays (+325), Astros (+650), Red Sox (+650), White Sox (+800), Guardians (+1100), Blue Jays (+1600), Rangers (+2500). 

Dodger Blue remain World Series favorites

I remember being at Dodger Stadium in Sept., 2024, and I was also at Dodger Stadium in August, 2022 following the passing of Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully. The Dodgers have had more than a decade of dominance, clinching their MLB record 14th straight playoff appearance this season to tie the Atlanta Braves remarkable run from 1991-2005. Los Angeles and Dodger Blue will clinch their 13th NL West title in the last 14 seasons in the days ahead. But the Dodgers have not yet clinched a first round bye in the playoffs (top 2 teams) as the Dodgers (91 wins) are just ahead of the Braves (88) with the Brewers leading the NL with 93 wins. Los Angeles has won 6-straight games heading into Game 2 of a 4-game series at Cincinnati Sept. 15.

Follow the latest MLB news and storylines, baseball odds, schedules and key games along with the adjusted World Series odds and any notable injuries (Shohei Ohtani). Starting pitching postseason rotations (no Ohtani) are going to be key to watch and wager action as the most exciting time of the MLB season approaches with the MLB playoffs.

You can bet on it. 

FairwayJay is recognized as a leading sports betting analyst providing insights and information you can bet on here at OSGA. Follow him on X @FairwayJay for more sports betting news and insights.