MLB Playoffs Reach Historic Scoring Low as Four Teams Advance

Four teams remain in the 2026 Major League Baseball playoffs as the Los Angeles Dodgers face the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series and the Tampa Bay Rays meet the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Championship Series. As of October 11, the postseason has produced historically low scoring, with pitching and defense emerging as major factors in the race for the World Series.

According to CBS Sports, teams have averaged just 3.46 runs per game through 25 postseason contests, compared with 4.48 during the regular season. If that pace continues, the 2026 playoffs would become the lowest-scoring postseason since the Division Series format was established in 1995.

The scoring decline has coincided with a .208 batting average, a .291 on-base percentage and a .334 slugging percentage across the first two rounds. During the Division Series alone, teams hit .192/.284/.304 and averaged 3.06 runs per game, CBS Sports reported.

Pitching performance has contributed to the offensive slowdown. Average fastball velocity has reached 96.1 mph in the postseason, up from 94.6 mph during the 2026 regular season. Pitchers have also benefited from favorable matchups, while injuries have limited several prominent hitters.

Through the first 25 playoff games, teams have thrown 254 pitches reaching at least 100 mph, exceeding the 211 such pitches recorded across the entire 2008 regular season. Of the 50 team offensive performances, 42 ended with five runs or fewer, and no team had scored 10 runs in a game.

The Dodgers and Brewers begin their National League series after finishing the regular season as baseball's only two teams with at least 100 victories. Milwaukee recorded a 103-59 record, three wins more than Los Angeles, according to The New York Times.

The Brewers also held a slight edge in several regular-season statistics. Milwaukee posted a plus-214 run differential, a 3.51 team ERA and a .341 on-base percentage, compared with the Dodgers' plus-201 run differential, 3.55 ERA and .338 on-base percentage. Milwaukee won four of seven regular-season meetings between the clubs.

Los Angeles, however, enters the matchup with significant postseason experience. The Dodgers swept Milwaukee in last year's National League Championship Series, outscoring the Brewers 15-4 and recording six home runs to Milwaukee's one.

The New York Times identified pitching depth as a potential advantage for Los Angeles, citing Blake Snell's 1.90 ERA across nine starts and Tyler Glasnow's 3.53 ERA. Milwaukee's options include Dustin May, who has a 4.70 ERA, and Robert Gasser, with a 3.87 ERA.

The American League matchup pairs a Tampa Bay team that won five of six regular-season meetings against Cleveland with a Guardians club that improved substantially late in the season. Tampa outscored Cleveland 20-8 across those six games, although five were decided by three runs or fewer.

Cleveland entered the postseason after winning 24 of its final 35 games and eliminated the Chicago White Sox in a decisive fifth game of their Division Series. The Guardians are seeking their first World Series championship since 1948, while the Brewers and Rays have never won a title.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt described the team's progress after its Division Series victory as a significant achievement.

"This was a difficult year," Vogt said after Cleveland defeated Chicago in Game 5.

The Guardians reached the American League Championship Series despite a challenging season, moving within one series of the World Series.

"For us to be one step away from the World Series, our ultimate goal, this is really exciting," Vogt said.

Cleveland's offense averaged 4.19 runs per game during the regular season, according to The New York Times. The team will need to generate consistent scoring against a Tampa Bay lineup known for making frequent contact and limiting strikeouts.

Rays manager Kevin Cash has previously described the difficulty of facing Cleveland, even though Tampa's overall regular-season results against the Guardians were favorable.

"feel like the Yankees" was Cash's description of games against Cleveland, according to The New York Times.

The Guardians also have a chance to challenge expectations after advancing through the Division Series. Their recent form and pitching could keep the matchup close, although Tampa's performance against Cleveland during the regular season gives the Rays a statistical advantage.

The New York Times characterized Cleveland's earlier postseason reputation as a pattern of "Cleveland collapses early," noting that the team's progress has challenged that perception. The Guardians now face another test against a Tampa Bay club that has demonstrated consistency throughout the season.

The Rays' pitching plans also face uncertainty because ace Shane McClanahan is dealing with a back injury. Tampa will need contributions from its other starters as the team attempts to reach the World Series.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, are pursuing a third consecutive championship, a feat no National League team has achieved. Cleveland is chasing its first title in 78 years, while Milwaukee and Tampa Bay are seeking the first championships in their respective franchise histories.

The Brewers and Dodgers are scheduled to open the National League Championship Series on Sunday night at American Family Field, while the Rays and Guardians are scheduled to begin their American League series on Monday at Tropicana Field.