MLB Games Wednesday, September 23, will be a busy day, as the 2026 Major League Baseball regular season nears its finish on September 27. The postseason begins on September 29. Teams need to leave it all on the field this week to clinch a playoff berth. Improve their Wild Card position or win a division.
The Cleveland Guardians will oppose the Boston Red Sox, and the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners are set to play each other on Wednesday. There are plenty of other teams also in the thick of the playoff race. Shohei Ohtani’s potential return will also make for an intriguing day, as MLB teams prepare for the October classic. Playoff positioning, personal milestones, and postseason preparation will all play a part in what happens on Wednesday.
MLB Games Biggest Storyline: Ohtani Set To Return
Ohtani is scheduled to come off the injured list and return to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup on Wednesday. The two-time MVP is set to play for the first time since he was sidelined with an injury. His health status will be a crucial storyline for the final week of the 2026 MLB regular season. Ohtani will be yet another offensive weapon for the Dodgers, who are preparing for the playoffs while also fighting the Milwaukee Brewers for National League home-field advantage.
Following Ohtani’s recovery, his return to the lineup would be a good opportunity for him to provide production for the team’s final games. The regular season would allow Los Angeles to assess their options ahead of the postseason. With only several games left to play in the regular season, his return would also provide intrigue ahead of the final week of the season.
Playoff Races Still In Play
With six games remaining in the regular season as of Tuesday, several postseason positioning battles remain unsettled. The Philadelphia Phillies have all but locked up a Wild Card berth but are still fighting for positioning as the National League’s fourth, fifth, or sixth seed. The Brewers and Dodgers continue their battle for the top overall seed and home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs.
MLB Games Today’s Schedule
Most series from Tuesday’s slate continue into Wednesday as part of standard three-and four-game sets. Confirmed and expected matchups include:
- Milwaukee Brewers at Philadelphia Phillies, with Philadelphia countering with ace Zack Wheeler, who has pitched to a 0.90 ERA across his last three September starts.
- St. Louis Cardinals at Pittsburgh Pirates
- Washington Nationals at Detroit Tigers
- Cleveland Guardians at Boston Red Sox
- Cincinnati Reds at Atlanta Braves
- Chicago White Sox at Kansas City Royals
- Miami Marlins at Chicago Cubs
- New York Mets at Texas Rangers
- Arizona Diamondbacks at Colorado Rockies
- Houston Astros at Seattle Mariners
- Los Angeles Angels at Athletics
- Minnesota Twins at San Francisco Giants
- San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Dodgers, marking Ohtani’s expected return
- Toronto Blue Jays at Baltimore Orioles, made up after Tuesday’s postponement
How To Watch
National coverage during the final week of the regular season typically airs across Fox, FS1, TBS, MLB Network, and each team’s regional broadcast partner. Every game is also available through team-specific streaming packages and MLB.TV.
Other Storylines To Watch
Chicago Cubs infielder Alex Bregman is expected to avoid the injured list despite being hit in the face by a foul ball, keeping him available as Chicago pushes for its own postseason positioning. Wild card races in both leagues also remain sensitive to weather, with rain threatening to disrupt scheduling in Boston over the season’s final days.
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End Of My MLB Games What Comes Next?
The regular season concludes Sunday, September 27, with the postseason beginning Tuesday, September 29. For live scores and updated standings as Wednesday’s games conclude, check official MLB scoreboards throughout the day.
