The 2026 MLB playoff field was nearly cut in half on Wednesday night. Amid the carnage, the Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees and San Diego Padres were all eliminated. The Cleveland Guardians were the only team trailing in their series that managed to survive another day.

The race for the next World Series champion is moving closer to its conclusion, but fans eager for an answer may have to wait a little longer. In the meantime, the latest expert predictions and oddsmakers’ lines offer a glimpse of who might lift the trophy.

A First-Time Title in Milwaukee?

Five MLB franchises remain without a World Series title, and a few experts from ESPN believe the Milwaukee Brewers could soon leave that group.

In a recent batch of bold playoff predictions, three of ESPN’s experts built their forecasts around the Brewers winning it all. Tristan Cockcroft called for Milwaukee’s breakout star, Jackson Chourio, to “become the 10th player to win LCS and World Series MVPs.” Eric Karabell predicted a combined no-hitter from Jacob Misiorowski, Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill in Game 1 of the World Series. AJ Mass had predicted that the Brewers would “trail in every playoff game en route to a championship,” but Milwaukee has already disproved that prediction, as it never trailed in Wednesday’s win.

That is considerable support for a club that has never won a championship, and the backing is hard to dispute. The Brewers won an MLB-best and franchise-record 103 games this season. They also boast this postseason’s highest OPS (.688) and second-lowest ERA (1.80).

Two-Time Defending Champs Aren’t the Favourites?

Ahead of the postseason, The Athletic asked more than 20 of its MLB experts to make World Series predictions. Those experts did not make the Los Angeles Dodgers, winners of the past two World Series, the most popular pick.

The Brewers dominated the poll with 56 percent of the vote. The Tampa Bay Rays placed second with 24 percent, while the Dodgers received just 16 percent. The Brewers and Rays are both credible choices, but the Dodgers’ level of support seems low for a team with this much star power and recent dominance.

“No team carries as much October hype as Los Angeles,” Katie Woo wrote. “There are rightful concerns over the drop-off in production from Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman, but their rotation of aces should carry them through any qualms on the offence. It’s the Dodgers’ title to lose, and they know it.”

Oddsmakers share that view. Still, if the majority of Woo’s colleagues are right, this year’s championship will not return to Los Angeles.