New Delhi, Oct. 14 -- Three lower-spending clubs have reached baseball's final four, putting Major League Baseball's push for a salary cap under fresh scrutiny as its collective bargaining agreement approaches expiration.

The Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians remain in the 2026 postseason alongside the Los Angeles Dodgers, ESPN reported. Their success gives players a counterargument to the league's contention that payroll disparities leave smaller-market clubs with too little chance of winning.

The Dodgers' cash payroll is $340.6 million, compared with $143.7 million for Milwaukee, $98.5 million for Tampa Bay and $74.4 million for Cleveland, according to payroll tracker Ethan Hulihen's figures cited by ESPN. Los ...