The 2026 MLB Postseason is heating up as the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays took home league pennants to advance to this year's Fall Classic, which will begin October 23 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Both the American League and National League Championship Series delivered must-see, action-packed baseball, and 22 USA Baseball alumni were featured on their respective team’s roster. See which Team USA alumni shined in the championship round.
DODGERS VS. BREWERS
The Milwaukee Brewers are headed to the World Series for the first time since 1982 following a four-game sweep of the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. Three USA Baseball alumni on the team – Garrett Mitchell (2019 CNT), Brice Turang (2014 15U, 2016 & 2017 18U, 2026 WBC), Andrew Vaughn (2013 15U, 2017 & 2018 CNT, 2019 Pro), and Christian Yelich (2017 WBC) – played a vital role in the Brewers’ lineup. In a tightly contested Game 1 of the series, Turang was responsible for hitting the game-tying run, a solo home run in the fourth inning, and Mitchell scored the go-ahead run in the fifth inning after drawing a leadoff walk. Yelich delivered a two-RBI single in the third inning of Game 2 to give the Brewers its first lead of the game, and Turang had a hit and a run scored in the contest to provide late insurance in the eighth inning. Mitchell homered in Games 3 and 4, with his Game 4 homer in the sixth inning proving to be the game-winning run en route to the series sweep. For the Dodgers, alums Mookie Betts (2023 WBC) and Kyle Tucker (2012 15U, 2023 WBC) put together respectable series showings in the lineup, as they both tallied at least one hit in three of the four games of the series.
RAYS VS. GUARDIANS
Despite being down 2-1 in the American League Championship Series, the Tampa Bay Rays managed to capture three consecutive wins to punch its ticket to the World Series for the third time in franchise history. Chandler Simpson (2024 Pro) was a bright spot for the Rays’ lineup, as he tallied five hits, three RBIs, and three runs scored in the series. His showing in the ALCS was highlighted by a two-RBI triple in the fourth inning of Game 3 to give the Rays the lead, and a 2-for-3 performance with a sacrifice fly and run scored in Game 5. In addition to Simpson’s offensive showing, Taylor Walls (2016 CNT) had hits in Games 2, 4, and 5, and Cedric Mullins (2023 WBC) hit a pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning of Game 1 to bring the Rays within a run. On the mound, Griffin Jax (2026 WBC) made his second career postseason start in Game 3 and Nick Martinez (2021 OLY, 2023 WBC) picked up his first career win in the postseason after surrendering one earned run on two hits in 5.1 innings in Game 5. Several alums on the Guardians’ roster delivered exciting ALCS action. Petey Halpin (2017 15U) played hero in Game 3 when he hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning and scored the game-winning run, and Jo Adell (2019 Pro) did so in Game 1 when he hit a two-RBI double in the ninth as part of a late surge by Cleveland. Patrick Bailey (2016 18U, 2018 & 2019 CNT) hit a game-tying home run in the seventh inning of Game 1 and managed to score a run in four of the six games. Parker Messick (2021 CNT) made two ALCS starts in his first career postseason run, which included not giving up an earned run in 5.0 innings in Game 2, and Hunter Gaddis (2017 CNT) gave up just two earned runs across four relief appearances in the series.
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