Gresini Racing go full One Piece for MotoGP’s Asian swing

The 2026 MLB regular season is over and the field is set for the battle to reach the World Series. 12 teams have qualified for the postseason, with six each from the American League and National League. The top two division winners in each league receive a bye into the Division Series, while the remaining eight teams begin their postseason in the best-of-three Wild Card Series. Here is a look at the 12 teams still in contention and what comes next for each.

Tampa Bay Rays (AL)

The Rays were one of the surprises of the season, bouncing back from consecutive losing campaigns to finish 98-64 and win the AL East. Led by Junior Caminero and Yandy Diaz, Tampa Bay also secured the number one seed in the American League, giving them a bye through the Wild Card round and home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs. They will face the winner of the Wild Card Series between the Yankees and Red Sox in the AL Division Series.

 

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Cleveland Guardians (AL)

Cleveland produced a strong finish to overhaul the Chicago White Sox and claim the AL Central with an 85-77 record. Jose Ramirez remains at the heart of the Guardians as they enter the postseason as the second seed with a first-round bye. They will meet either the Houston Astros or White Sox in the Division Series.

 

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Houston Astros (AL)

The Astros left it until the final day to secure the AL West, finishing 81-81 after a tight battle with the Texas Rangers. Despite having the worst record among the six AL playoff teams, winning their division gives Houston the third seed. They will host the sixth-seeded White Sox in the Wild Card Series.

 

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New York Yankees (AL)

The Yankees endured an injury-hit season but still finished 93-68 to secure the top Wild Card spot. Aaron Judge missed three months through injury before returning in September, with New York managing to remain in the playoff race without their biggest star. The Yankees missed out on the AL East title to Tampa Bay but will have home advantage against familiar rivals Boston in the Wild Card Series.

 

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Boston Red Sox (AL)

Boston recovered from a 2-8 start and a managerial change to finish 87-75 and claim the second AL Wild Card. A 15-game winning streak in July helped turn their season around, while the arrival of Willson Contreras and Sonny Gray also gave the Red Sox a different look in 2026. They now head to Yankee Stadium for a Wild Card Series against New York.

 

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Chicago White Sox (AL)

The White Sox completed one of the biggest turnarounds of the season, reaching the playoffs after losing more than 100 games in each of the previous two years. Chicago finished 84-78 and narrowly missed out on the AL Central title to Cleveland, with Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami among the new faces helping transform the team. Their reward is a trip to Houston to face the Astros in the Wild Card Series.

 

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Milwaukee Brewers (NL)

The Brewers finished with MLB's best record at 103-59 to comfortably win the NL Central. Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio were among the key players in another impressive regular season for Milwaukee, who earned the number one seed and home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs. They receive a first-round bye and will face the winner of the Padres-Cubs Wild Card Series in the Division Series.

 

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Los Angeles Dodgers (NL)

Shohei Ohtani and the two-time defending World Series champions continued their long run of regular-season success, finishing 100-62 to win the NL West. The star-studded Dodgers also feature former Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal as they chase a third consecutive championship. It marked the Dodgers' 14th consecutive postseason appearance and their 13th division title during that stretch. As the number two seed, Los Angeles receives a bye before facing either Atlanta or Philadelphia in the Division Series.

 

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Atlanta Braves (NL)

Atlanta returned to the playoffs after missing out last season, finishing 94-68 to win the NL East. The Braves led their division for most of the campaign, with Ronald Acuna Jr., Matt Olson and Chris Sale among the familiar names driving their return to October. They secured the number three seed and will host the sixth-seeded Phillies in the Wild Card Series.

 

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San Diego Padres (NL)

The Padres recovered from a difficult middle portion of the season to finish strongly and claim the top NL Wild Card with a 91-71 record. Fernando Tatis Jr. remains one of the biggest names on a San Diego team that has reached the postseason for a franchise-first third consecutive season. The Padres will host the Cubs in the Wild Card Series.

 

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Chicago Cubs (NL)

Chicago experienced an up-and-down campaign but did enough to finish 89-73 and secure the second NL Wild Card. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Alex Bregman and Seiya Suzuki headline a Cubs team returning to the postseason for a second straight year. Chicago travel to San Diego for a Wild Card Series against the Padres after reaching the Division Series last season.

 

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Philadelphia Phillies (NL)

The Phillies survived a late challenge from the Arizona Diamondbacks to grab the final postseason berth with an 88-74 record. Philadelphia finished second behind Atlanta in the NL East and secured their fifth consecutive playoff appearance. They will begin their postseason on the road against the Braves in the Wild Card Series.

 

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Malaysians Ng Eain Yow and Sivasangari Subramaniam have made history as the first squash players to qualify for the Olympic Games after winning singles gold at the 2026 Asian Games. They successfully defended their respective titles in Aichi-Nagoya on Sunday to secure automatic qualification for Los Angeles 2028, where squash will make its long-awaited Olympic debut.

 

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Ng was the first to book his place after defeating India's Abhay Singh 11-9, 11-5, 11-5 in the men's singles final at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena. The 28-year-old went through the tournament without dropping a game and became the first player in squash history to secure an Olympic berth. Sivasangari followed shortly afterwards with an equally convincing victory over India's Anahat Singh in the women's final. The world number five needed just three games to see off the 18-year-old 11-4, 11-4, 11-7 and claim her second consecutive Asian Games singles title. Their victories also made Ng and Sivasangari the first Malaysian athletes to qualify for LA28, more than 20 months before the Games get underway. Squash will make its Olympic debut in Los Angeles, with men's and women's singles competitions featuring 16 players each. The 2026 Asian Games provided the first opportunity to qualify, with the men's and women's singles champions both earning direct places at LA28.

 

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Godzilla took over Dodger Stadium as the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated their final regular-season home game with a special Godzilla Minus Zero Night. The Japanese icon made an appearance at the ballpark on Thursday as the Dodgers hosted the San Diego Padres, with the event held ahead of the release of the latest film in the long-running franchise. Ryunosuke Kamiki, who reprised the role as Koichi Shikishima after starring the Academy Award-winning Godzilla Minus One, was also on hand to throw the ceremonial first pitch.

 

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The Japanese actor was joined by Godzilla on the field, while the pair also posed for photos with Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell before the game. Fans were given their own piece of the occasion, with the first 40,000 in attendance receiving a special Godzilla Minus Zero bobblehead. The celebrations continued after the final out as drones lit up the sky above Dodger Stadium for a show celebrating the legacy of Godzilla. Godzilla Minus Zero Night was staged in partnership with Japanese entertainment company TOHO as part of the build-up to the next instalment in the franchise. The new film is set in 1949, two years after the events of its predecessor, and continues the story of the Shikishima family as Japan faces another threat from Godzilla. Godzilla Minus Zero will premiere at the 2026 New York Film Festival on September 26, and is scheduled to be released theatrically in Japan on November 3.

 

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Tijjani Reijnders defended his decision to leave Manchester City for the Saudi Pro League, admitting financial security was a major factor behind his move to Al Qadsiah. The Netherlands midfielder joined the Saudi club in August after just one season at City, signing a long-term deal with Brendan Rodgers' side.

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Speaking to Dutch broadcaster SBS6, Reijnders was candid about the financial benefits on offer and the opportunity to provide for his family beyond his playing career. “Once my playing career is over, I don’t want to have to work anymore,” he said. “Of course, I probably wouldn’t have needed to work anymore after my contract at Manchester City either, but this move allows me to secure the future of the next generations of my family. “By signing this contract, I can make sure even my grandchildren are financially secure, so why wouldn’t I do it? You can always play the moral crusader, but I think everyone would say yes to that." Reijnders added that his move was more than just the lucrative contract, pushing back against perceptions of the standard of football in Saudi Arabia. "I rate the Saudi league, with all those big names, even higher than the Eredivisie. If people want to pass judgment on the football there, they have to see it first,” he said. The former AC Milan midfielder also acknowledged concerns that moving to Saudi Arabia at the peak of his career could close the door on a future return to European football, but a conversation with Rodgers helped him. "I think many people have the idea that your career as a top footballer is over when you choose to take such a step. I had that feeling at first too,” he added. "He [Rodgers] said that I can play here perfectly fine for three or four years and then go back to Europe. There are plenty of examples of that now. That is also my goal."