​The 2026 Major League Baseball playoffs have arrived with the best-of-three wild card series beginning Tuesday, Sept. 29, featuring some marquee matchups led by a New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox showdown in the American League.In the NL, the San Diego Padres host the Chicago Cubs while the Philadelphia Phillies visit Atlanta. In the other AL series, the Houston Astros (81-81, the worst record for a playoff team in history) face the Chicago White Sox.In the four seasons since MLB changed its playoff format in 2022, two teams have played in the wild card series and gone on to win the World Series: the 2023 Texas Rangers and 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers.Here’s how USA TODAY Sports’ MLB reporters and editors see the best-of-three wild card series playing out:Yankees vs. Red Sox predictionsBob Nightengale: Yankees in 3Gabe Lacques: Yankees in 2Kristie Ackert: Yankees in 3Jesse Yomtov: Yankees in 3Astros vs. White Sox predictionBob Nightengale: White Sox in 3Gabe Lacques: White Sox in 3Jesse Yomtov: White Sox in 3Atlanta vs. Phillies predictionBob Nightengale: Atlanta in 3Gabe Lacques: Atlanta in 2Jesse Yomtov: Phillies in 2Padres vs. Cubs predictionBob Nightengale: Padres in 2Gabe Lacques: Padres in 3Kristie Ackert: Cubs in 3Jesse Yomtov: Padres in 3This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB expert playoff predictions and wild card picks: Yankees or Red Sox?