Major League Baseball's 2024 playoff schedule has been revealed, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling postseason. The action kicks off on October 1 with the commencement of the Wild Card Series. This opening round features eight teams battling it out in a best-of-three format to secure their spots in the League Division Series (LDS).
Wild Card Series: The Battle Begins
In this high-stakes opening round, the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds in each league will host the No. 6 and No. 5 teams, respectively. The New York Mets and Atlanta Braves clinched the final two spots, adding even more excitement to the postseason mix. The Mets will head to Milwaukee to face the Brewers, in a matchup that promises to test both teams' mettle. Meanwhile, the Braves will travel west to meet the formidable San Diego Padres.
The American League Wild Card matchups are equally compelling. The Baltimore Orioles, having secured their playoff berth, will host the Kansas City Royals. At the same time, the Houston Astros will face the Detroit Tigers in another Wild Card showdown. Game 1 for all Wild Card matchups is set for October 1, followed by Game 2 on October 2. Should any series require a decisive third game, it will be played on October 3.
League Division Series: Heavyweights Enter the Fray
The competition intensifies as the League Division Series kicks off on October 5. The Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, and Cleveland Guardians have earned byes directly to this round, ensuring their freshest possible start to the postseason. The Guardians and Yankees will begin their LDS on October 5, along with the Phillies and Dodgers.
Game 2 for the Phillies and Dodgers will follow quickly on October 6, while the Guardians and Yankees play their second games on October 7. The possibility of decisive Game 5s adds an extra layer of drama, scheduled for October 11 and 12 for the National and American League Divisions, respectively.
League Championship Series: The Best of the Best
The stakes couldn’t be higher as the League Championship Series begins on October 13 for the National League and October 14 for the American League. Game 2 of the NLCS will be held on October 14, followed by Game 2 of the ALCS on October 15. If either series extends to the full seven games, the NLCS will conclude on October 21, and the ALCS will finish on October 22.
World Series: The Pinnacle of Baseball
The culmination of an exhilarating postseason, the World Series, is tentatively set to start on October 25. However, if both the ALCS and NLCS conclude in five games or fewer, the World Series could be moved up to October 22. Game 2 of the World Series is scheduled for October 26, with subsequent games planned for October 28 and October 29. The series could climax with Game 6 on November 1 and, if necessary, Game 7 on November 2.
This year’s MLB postseason promises to deliver maximum excitement, as fans eagerly anticipate epic matchups, potential upsets, and the crowning of the next World Series victor. With a lineup of games that promises drama and high stakes, the baseball community is set for a memorable postseason journey.