2026 MLB Playoffs: Which Championship Series Games Are Worth the Trip?
Every price in this post is the cheapest seat listed on StubOrder for that game when we checked on October 9, 2026, frozen as published. Playoff prices move by the hour, so tap any game for the live listings.
The final four are almost set. The NLCS starts Sunday, October 11, in Milwaukee, where the top-seeded Brewers host the two-time defending champion Dodgers. The ALCS starts Monday, October 12, at Tropicana Field, where the Rays wait for the winner of the White Sox and Guardians series. Game 1 of both series starts at 8 p.m. ET.
That is up to 14 games in nine days, and the cheapest seat swings a lot from one game to the next. This guide goes through both series game by game: which games are guaranteed, which are the best value right now, where the drama is likely, and how to plan the trip.
The 2026 championship series at a glance
Both series are best of seven in a 2-3-2 format: the higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 6 and 7, and the other team hosts Games 3, 4 and 5.
| Series | Matchup | Games 1, 2, 6, 7 | Games 3, 4, 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| NLCS | No. 1 Brewers vs. No. 2 Dodgers | American Family Field, Milwaukee | Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles |
| ALCS | No. 1 Rays vs. White Sox or Guardians | Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg | Rate Field, Chicago, or Progressive Field, Cleveland |
Games 1 through 4 of each series are certain to be played. Games 5, 6 and 7 happen only if needed. The two winners meet in the World Series, which starts Friday, October 23.
The surprise when we checked: the guaranteed games in Los Angeles and St. Petersburg were the cheapest tickets in either series, while the possible ALCS games in Chicago were the most expensive by far.
NLCS: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
The matchup
For the second October in a row, the National League pennant runs through Milwaukee and Los Angeles. The Brewers, the No. 1 seed, beat the Padres 3-1 in the Division Series. The Dodgers, the No. 2 seed, beat the Braves 3-1 and are chasing a third straight title.
Milwaukee won the regular-season series 4-3, including three wins in a four-game set at Dodger Stadium in August. October has been another story: Los Angeles has won all three postseason meetings between the clubs, most recently the 2025 NLCS. Two names to watch are Shohei Ohtani, who had a quiet Division Series by his standards, and Jackson Chourio, the Brewers' 23-year-old who already holds the franchise records for postseason home runs and RBIs and walked off Game 2 against San Diego.
Which NLCS games are worth the trip
| Game | Date and city | Cheapest seat, Oct 9 | Our take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Sun, Oct 11, Milwaukee | about $194 | Opening night with the top seed at home |
| Game 2 | Mon, Oct 12, Milwaukee | about $194 | Same price as Game 1, with an earlier 5 p.m. ET start |
| Game 3 | Wed, Oct 14, Los Angeles | about $168 | Guaranteed, and cheaper than any game in Milwaukee |
| Game 4 | Thu, Oct 15, Los Angeles | about $165 | The cheapest guaranteed NLCS game we found |
| Game 5* | Fri, Oct 16, Los Angeles | about $197 | A possible clincher on a Friday night |
| Game 6* | Sun, Oct 18, Milwaukee | about $265 | Played only if the series is still open after five |
| Game 7* | Mon, Oct 19, Milwaukee | about $293 | The dream game, if it comes |
*If necessary.
Our NLCS picks:
- Best value: Game 3 or Game 4 at Dodger Stadium. Both are guaranteed, both had well over 1,000 tickets listed, and both were cheaper than any game in Milwaukee when we checked.
- Best opening act: Game 1 in Milwaukee. The No. 1 seed's first home game of the series, on a Sunday night, for less than $200 when we checked.
- Most drama for the money: Game 5 in Los Angeles, if it is needed. Somebody could be one win from the World Series, and it was about $197 when we checked.
- The dream game: Game 7 in Milwaukee on Monday, October 19. It was the priciest NLCS game we saw, and it may never be played.
Compare Dodgers tickets and Brewers tickets for every home date.
Where to sit for the NLCS
American Family Field has a retractable roof, so a cold October night in Milwaukee will not wash out your game. Dodger Stadium is open air, and October evenings in Los Angeles are usually mild. At both parks the upper levels are the cheapest way in, and every listing on StubOrder shows the section and row, so you know exactly where you will sit before you buy. See the full American Family Field schedule and Dodger Stadium schedule.
ALCS: Tampa Bay Rays vs. White Sox or Guardians
The matchup
The Rays are the American League's No. 1 seed, and they arrived in style: a 3-0 sweep of the Yankees in the Division Series, the first sweep of a best-of-five or longer postseason series in franchise history. Their opponent comes down to one game. The No. 6 White Sox won the first two games of their Division Series in Cleveland, the No. 2 Guardians answered with two wins in Chicago, and the winner-take-all Game 5 is Saturday, October 10, at 8 p.m. ET at Progressive Field.
That leaves two very different trips for Games 3, 4 and 5. A White Sox pennant run would be the South Side's first ALCS since their 2005 championship season, and the Chicago dates were the most expensive tickets in either series when we checked. Cleveland had only a handful of seats listed for its possible home games, so expect those prices to move a lot once the matchup is set.
Which ALCS games are worth the trip
| Game | Date and city | Cheapest seat, Oct 9 | Our take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Mon, Oct 12, St. Petersburg | about $118 | The cheapest seat in either series when we checked |
| Game 2 | Tue, Oct 13, St. Petersburg | about $139 | Guaranteed, with plenty of seats to choose from |
| Game 3 | Thu, Oct 15, Chicago or Cleveland | about $381 in Chicago, $286 in Cleveland | Guaranteed, wherever it lands |
| Game 4 | Fri, Oct 16, Chicago or Cleveland | about $393 in Chicago, $291 in Cleveland | Guaranteed, on a Friday night |
| Game 5* | Sat, Oct 17, Chicago or Cleveland | about $451 in Chicago, $305 in Cleveland | A possible clincher on a Saturday night |
| Game 6* | Mon, Oct 19, St. Petersburg | about $192 | Played only if the series is still open after five |
| Game 7* | Tue, Oct 20, St. Petersburg | about $186 | Cheaper than the NLCS Game 7 in Milwaukee |
*If necessary. Games 3, 4 and 5 will show up on the ALCS tickets page under the right team as soon as the Division Series ends.
Our ALCS picks:
- Best value: Game 1 or Game 2 at Tropicana Field. Both are guaranteed, both had more than 1,300 tickets listed, and Game 1 was the cheapest seat of the whole round.
- Biggest buzz: any game in Chicago, if the White Sox get there. The prices say fans are already counting on it.
- Best deal on a Game 7: St. Petersburg on Tuesday, October 20. It was about $107 less than the possible Game 7 in Milwaukee when we checked.
Compare Rays tickets, White Sox tickets and Guardians tickets.
Where to sit for the ALCS
Tropicana Field is a domed ballpark, so rain and heat are off the table in St. Petersburg. If the middle games land in Chicago or Cleveland, you are outdoors by the Great Lakes in mid-October, so bring layers for a night game. See the Tropicana Field schedule, the Rate Field schedule and the Progressive Field schedule.
Pro tip: the best value of the whole round when we checked was ALCS Game 1 at Tropicana Field: guaranteed, more than 1,500 tickets listed, and the cheapest seat in either series. If you can only make one trip, that is the one.
How to choose your game
Three questions settle it.
What is your budget?
- Lowest price: ALCS Game 1 in St. Petersburg or NLCS Game 4 in Los Angeles. Both are guaranteed, and both were under $170 when we checked.
- A big game without the biggest price: NLCS Game 5 in Los Angeles or ALCS Game 6 in St. Petersburg, both under $200 when we checked.
- Price is no object: the ALCS in Chicago, if the White Sox get there.
Do you want certainty or drama?
Games 1 through 4 always happen. Games 5, 6 and 7 might not, and those are the games where a pennant can be won. If you want a sure thing, buy one of the first four games. If you want the chance at a clincher, take a later game and accept the risk.
Can you see both series in one trip?
Only if the White Sox advance. Chicago and Milwaukee are about 90 miles apart, so ALCS Games 3 to 5 at Rate Field (October 15 to 17) sit right next to the NLCS in Milwaukee. If both series run long, you could catch ALCS Game 5 in Chicago on Saturday, October 17, and NLCS Game 6 in Milwaukee on Sunday, October 18. Both are "if necessary" games, so it is a gamble, but a fun one.
Planning the trip
These series move fast, and Game 1 is days away, so book your travel as soon as you pick a game. Staying near the ballpark saves you a late-night ride after a long playoff game.
- Milwaukee: hotels near American Family Field and flights to Milwaukee.
- Los Angeles: hotels near Dodger Stadium and flights to Los Angeles.
- St. Petersburg: Tropicana Field is across the bay from Tampa, so check the airports near Tropicana Field before you book, and see hotels near Tropicana Field.
- Chicago or Cleveland: hotels near Rate Field or hotels near Progressive Field, once you know which city hosts.
If your game is an "if necessary" date, a refundable hotel rate is worth considering.
Questions fans ask
When does the 2026 NLCS start?
Sunday, October 11, at American Family Field in Milwaukee, at 8 p.m. ET.
When does the 2026 ALCS start?
Monday, October 12, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, at 8 p.m. ET, with the Rays hosting the winner of the White Sox and Guardians series, which is decided in Game 5 on Saturday, October 10.
Where are ALCS Games 3, 4 and 5?
At Rate Field in Chicago if the White Sox win their Division Series, or at Progressive Field in Cleveland if the Guardians do.
What happens to my ticket if an "if necessary" game is not played?
A game that is not needed is cancelled, and a cancelled event is refunded in full, excluding delivery fees, under our 100% Buyer Guarantee.
When does the World Series start?
Friday, October 23, at the ballpark of the pennant winner with the better 2026 regular-season record.
Pick your game, set your budget and be there when the lights come on. Browse NLCS tickets and ALCS tickets, or look ahead to the World Series, and buy with confidence: every order on StubOrder is backed by our 100% Buyer Guarantee.
