The 2026 MLB postseason opened with three Wild Card sweeps, including dominant Yankees and Padres performances, while the Braves-Phillies series reached a decisive Game 3 after Philadelphia rallied for a 4-3 win in 10 innings on September 30. That extra-inning contest already stands as the longest to date amid bullpen-heavy play and late home runs. With Division Series best-of-five matchups beginning October 3 featuring rested teams like the Dodgers, Rays, and Guardians, prolonged games could emerge from deep pitching staffs, close scores, or weather delays in later rounds. Historical postseason trends show extra innings occur most often in elimination or rivalry games where managers exhaust relievers.