With the conclusion of the regular season, Major League Baseball has unveiled the 2024 playoff schedule, setting the stage for a thrilling October. The postseason will kick off with the Wild Card Series on October 1, sparking excitement among fans and teams alike.
The Wild Card Series features eight teams clashing in a best-of-three format to earn their spots in the League Division Series (LDS). In this high-stakes round, the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds in each league will host the No. 6 and No. 5 teams, respectively.
Wild Card Round Matchups
The New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves clinched the final two postseason spots. The Mets will travel to Milwaukee to face the Brewers, while the Braves head west for a showdown with the Padres. Additionally, the Baltimore Orioles will host the Kansas City Royals, and the Houston Astros will take on the Detroit Tigers in other Wild Card contests. Each series will commence with Game 1 on October 1, followed by Game 2 on October 2. Should any of these matchups require a decisive third game, it will take place on October 3.
League Division Series
The action doesn't stop there. The League Division Series will start on October 5, featuring teams that have earned byes directly to this round. The Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, and Cleveland Guardians will begin their postseason journeys on this date. The Guardians and Yankees, along with the Phillies and Dodgers, will all commence their LDS Game 1 battles on October 5. The Phillies and Dodgers will continue with their Game 2 matches on October 6, and the Guardians and Yankees will play their second games on October 7. Any necessary decisive Game 5s will be held on October 11 and 12 for the National and American League Divisions, respectively.
League Championship Series
The excitement escalates as the League Championship Series begins on October 13 for the National League and a day later on October 14 for the American League. Game 2 of the NLCS is scheduled for October 14, with the ALCS following closely behind on October 15. If the series in either league extend to all seven games, the NLCS will conclude on October 21, and the ALCS on October 22.
The Road to the World Series
The climax of the MLB postseason, the World Series, is tentatively set to start on October 25. However, if both the ALCS and NLCS conclude in five games or less, the World Series could be moved up to October 22, providing fans an earlier treat. Game 2 is planned for October 26, with subsequent matchups on October 28 and October 29. If the championship series extends beyond five games, Game 6 will happen on November 1, and a decisive Game 7, if necessary, on November 2.
As the first pitch of the postseason approaches, fans are brimming with anticipation. This year's bracket promises electrifying matchups and the possibility of stunning upsets. With every inning, each team will strive to etch their name in baseball lore, driving the competition towards the ultimate prize—the World Series championship.