Dodgers' nightmare seeding, matchup scenarios for 2026 MLB Playoffs
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It seems like the toll of back-to-back title runs is starting to weigh on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pegged as the team to beat this season after another monstrous offseason, LA has just been… good this season. They’re still one of the best teams in the MLB, yes, but they haven’t been as dominant as expected coming into the year.
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With just a handful of games left in the regular season, the Dodgers have officially claimed a spot in the playoffs. The division title has not been clinched, though its only a matter of time before they do. That being said, what’s the worst possible scenario for Los Angeles coming into the postseason?
Dodgers’ nightmare seeding, matchup scenarios for 2026 MLB Playoffs
The three possible scenarios for the Dodgers in the postseason are them coming in as high as the first seed up to as low as the fourth seed in the National League. The best possible scenario for them is getting the first seed, as it sets them up to avoid their worst matchups until the NLCS.
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Each of the remaining finishes poses its own issues for the Dodgers. A second-place finish would get LA a much-needed first round bye to get some rest before the NLDS. However, that also potentially sets them up for a matchup against the Atlanta Braves, a team that they’ve struggled with in the last few years. This year in particular, Atlanta has had their number, losing five of their six games against them. It’s also worth pointing out that the Dodgers lost to the Braves in their last postseason matchup, dropping 2-4 in the 2021 NLCS.
If the Dodgers got the third seed, that would mean that they surrendered the second seed to the Braves. Again, this sets up a matchup with Atlanta in the NLDS, regardless of who they face in the Wild Card round. Los Angeles does have favorable matchups against the Phillies (4-2) and the Padres (8-4), but the Cubs lurk as a potential issue for them. Los Angeles is 2-4 against Chicago this season.
The fourth seed is the most nightmarish scenario for the Dodgers, simply because of what would need to happen to get here. This requires the Dodgers to lose all of their remaining games to surrender control of the NL West to the Padres. This would set up LA in a matchup against either the Phillies or the Cubs… only to run into the first-seeded Milwaukee Brewers on the road in the NLDS.
It should be noted that the last two scenarios are extremely unlikely to happen. Even with LA losing to the Reds today, the Dodgers’ magic number to clinch the division is still one. That means a Padres loss or a Dodgers win in the home stretch gives them the division. As for the third seed, the Braves would need to win their last nine games and for the Dodgers to lose four times to win the second seed.
Even if the Dodgers get the second seed, there’s no guarantee that they face Atlanta: the Braves are yet to clinch their own division. Even if they do win, they’re likely to face the Padres in the Wild Card round, an abysmal matchup for them.
Still, it’s better to be prepared for the worst-case scenario.
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