The Dodgers face the Brewers in the National League Championship Series, while the Rays meet the Guardians for the American League pennant. The Dodgers-Brewers matchup repeats last year’s NLCS.

The American League series pairs the top-seeded Rays, making their first playoff appearance since 2023, with a Guardians team coming off a five-game series. Tampa Bay advanced past the Yankees and enters the matchup with more rest.

In their series predictions, Tom Verducci and Ryan Phillips both pick the Rays to reach the World Series. Verducci expects Tampa Bay to win in six games, citing manager Kevin Cash’s handling of the pitching staff and the postseason potential of Victor Mesa Jr. and Junior Caminero. Phillips predicts a five-game win, pointing to the Rays’ pitching against New York and the Guardians’ longer path to the series.