With under a month left in the regular season, the 2026 MLB pennant races have taken shape — and they've produced a fascinating split between the team with the best record and the team the oddsmakers trust most in October.
Milwaukee's Surprising Supremacy
The Milwaukee Brewers own the best record in baseball at 88-56, holding a commanding lead in the NL Central. Built on pitching depth and relentless situational hitting rather than star power, the Brewers have quietly been the sport's most consistent team all summer.
But the Dodgers Are the Favorites
The Los Angeles Dodgers sit right behind at 85-57 atop the NL West, and Las Vegas still installs them as the World Series favorite at around +170. The reason: a blockbuster trade-deadline addition of ace Tarik Skubal that gives an already loaded rotation a true October weapon. Milwaukee, despite the superior record, trails well behind in the futures market.
The American League
The Tampa Bay Rays lead the AL East at 85-58, staying in front of the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in the wild-card chase. In the NL East, the Atlanta Braves (85-58) hold off the Philadelphia Phillies in another tight divisional battle.
The Home Run Chase
Philadelphia's Kyle Schwarber leads the majors with 42 home runs — becoming only the fourth active player to hit 40+ in four consecutive seasons. Chicago's Pete Crow-Armstrong (40), Houston's Yordan Alvarez (38), Tampa Bay's Junior Caminero (38), and Atlanta's Matt Olson (37) give chase.
Alvarez remains among the most complete hitters in the sport, ranking near the top of the majors in on-base percentage and slugging as Houston pushes for the AL West crown.
What's Next
With the Brewers and Dodgers separating themselves in the National League and the AL still bunched together, the final month sets up as a playoff-style gauntlet leading into October.
*Reported by the Urban City Podcast Sports newsroom — urbancitypodcastsports.com. Standings and statistics verified as of September 6, 2026.*