Brewers and Rays clinch playoff berths during ongoing labor negotiations

The Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays became the first teams to secure 2026 postseason berths, drawing attention to their status as clubs with lower payrolls. Milwaukee holds the best record in MLB while operating with the nineteenth-highest payroll, and Tampa Bay maintains the top record in the American League despite having the fourth-smallest payroll in the league. Both teams faced challenges this season after losing regional media rights deals following the collapse of Main Street Sports Group. These clinches add a new element to the ongoing labor dispute between MLB and the MLB Players Association. While the union points to these teams as evidence that competitive balance exists without a hard salary cap, league management emphasizes that teams from top-15 media markets have historically dominated the League Championship Series and World Series.

• 7:03 PMYahoo Sports — Brewers and Rays Make Playoffs, Complicating MLB-Union Labor Fight