(Central Islip, N.Y., Sept. 21, 2026) – The Long Island Ducks continue the 2026 Atlantic League playoffs this week when they face the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in the best-of-five Atlantic League Championship Series. Long Island clinched the North Division Championship with a three-game sweep of the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars in the North Division Championship Series. In doing so, they earned their 10th division title all-time and first since 2021. The Blue Crabs claimed the South Division Championship with a 3-1 series win over the Lexington Legends in the South Division Championship Series, collecting their third division title all-time and first since 2015. The Ducks are seeking their fifth Atlantic League Championship in franchise history (2004, 2012, 2013, 2019), while the Blue Crabs are vying for their first.
2026 ATLANTIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES SCHEDULE
| Game One | Tue., September 22 | Ducks at Blue Crabs | 6:35 p.m. | Regency Furniture Stadium |
| Game Two | Wed., September 23 | Ducks at Blue Crabs | 6:35 p.m. | Regency Furniture Stadium |
| Game Three | Fri., September 25 | Blue Crabs at Ducks | 6:35 p.m. | Fairfield Properties Ballpark |
| Game Four* | Sat., September 26 | Blue Crabs at Ducks | 6:35 p.m. | Fairfield Properties Ballpark |
| Game Five* | Sun., September 27 | Blue Crabs at Ducks | 5:05 p.m. | Fairfield Properties Ballpark |
| * – If Necessary |
HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY
The Atlantic League Championship Series will feature the sixth all-time postseason series between the Ducks and Blue Crabs. Southern Maryland won the 2009 Liberty Division Championship Series 3-2, before Long Island won the Liberty Division Championship Series in 2011 (3-1), 2012 (3-2), 2013 (3-0) and the North Division Championship Series in 2021 (2-1). The Ducks have a 13-7 advantage all-time in the playoffs against the Blue Crabs, including a 6-5 edge on Long Island and a 7-2 advantage in Waldorf, Md.
The Ducks lead the all-time regular season series between the two teams 172-147. The Ducks have a 99-68 advantage at Fairfield Properties Ballpark, while the Blue Crabs have a 79-73 edge at Regency Furniture Stadium. The two sides split the 2026 season series with six wins apiece, with each team winning five of the six games played at their home ballpark. Southern Maryland won five of six vs. Long Island in Waldorf June 9-14. Long Island won two of three vs. Southern Maryland in Central Islip in the final three games of the first half June 30-July 2 and won the final three games of the regular season September 11-13 at the Duck Pond.
PITCHING MATCHUPS
The following are the probable pitching matchups for the Atlantic League Championship Series (2026 ALPB stats | 2026 Playoff stats):
GAME ONE
Ducks: RHP Tanner Jacobson (7-5, 5.59 ERA | 0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Blue Crabs: RHP Ian Kahaloa (9-9, 4.97 ERA | 0-1, 10.38 ERA)
GAME TWO
Ducks: RHP Anthony Escobar (2-0, 1.80 ERA | 1-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. Blue Crabs: RHP Kyle Virbitsky (12-8, 4.41 ERA | 1-0, 4.50 ERA)
GAME THREE
Blue Crabs: TBA vs. Ducks: LHP Nick Margevicius (6-2, 4.31 ERA | 1-0, 1.13 ERA)
GAME FOUR (IF NECESSARY)
Blue Crabs: TBA vs. Ducks: RHP Michael Dominguez (7-5, 5.76 ERA)
GAME FIVE (IF NECESSARY)
Blue Crabs: TBA vs. Ducks: TBA
ROSTERS
Below are links to the 26-man active Atlantic League Championship Series rosters for the Ducks and Blue Crabs:
FOLLOW ALONG
Those unable to attend can follow all the action of every Ducks Atlantic League Championship Series game live on Dugout TV, powered by HomeTeam Network. The subscription service will stream every game live and on-demand. Championship Series games are included for those with existing season or annual subscriptions, while fans without a subscription can purchase one for all playoff games at a discounted rate of $9.99. Fans can follow a pitch-by-pitch account of each playoff game as well via iScore by CLICKING HERE.
TICKET LINKS
Tickets to all Ducks home playoff games are available by visiting the Fairfield Properties Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX or clicking below.
Those wishing to attend Games One and Two in Maryland can purchase tickets by CLICKING HERE, calling (301) 638-9788 or visiting the Regency Furniture Stadium box office.
The Long Island Ducks are in their 26th season of play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip, N.Y. They are the all-time leader in wins and attendance in Atlantic League history, have led all MLB Partner Leagues in total attendance for six consecutive seasons, and have sold out a record 730 games all-time. For further information, visit LIDucks.com or call 631-940-DUCK (3825).
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
Celebrating its third decade, the Atlantic League is Major League Baseball’s first Professional Partner League, a player gateway to the major leagues, and a leader in baseball innovation. Over its 27-year history, the ALPB has sent over 1,450 players to MLB organizations while drawing nearly 50 million fans to its 10 state-of-the-art ballparks that stretch from New York to North Carolina. Follow the action on DugoutTV.org.
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