The wait is over for baseball fans, as Major League Baseball's 2024 playoff schedule has been revealed, setting the stage for a thrilling postseason. The action will commence on October 1 with the opening of the Wild Card Series, where eight teams will engage in a high-stakes best-of-three format to secure their spots in the League Division Series (LDS).
Wild Card Series Matchups
The No. 3 and No. 4 seeds in each league will have the advantage of hosting the No. 6 and No. 5 teams, respectively. Among the notable teams clinching the final two Wild Card spots were the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves. The Mets are set to travel to Milwaukee to face off against the Brewers, while the Braves will head west to challenge the San Diego Padres.
In other Wild Card matchups, the Baltimore Orioles will play host to the Kansas City Royals, and the Houston Astros will take on the Detroit Tigers. All Game 1 matchups will occur on 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 Awaits
After the Wild Card round, the League Division Series kicks off on October 5, with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, and Cleveland Guardians receiving byes directly to this round thanks to their stellar regular-season performances.
The Guardians and Yankees will begin their series with Game 1 on October 5, alongside the Phillies and Dodgers, who will also launch their postseason journeys on the same day. Game 2 for the Phillies and Dodgers will take place on October 6, while the Guardians and Yankees have their second games set for October 7.
If any series extends to a decisive Game 5, these matchups are scheduled for October 11 for the National League Division Series (NLDS) and October 12 for the American League Division Series (ALDS).
League Championship Series
As the postseason drama intensifies, the League Championship Series will begin on October 13 for the National League, while the American League Championship Series will commence on October 14. Game 2 of these series will be held on October 14 for the NLCS and October 15 for the ALCS.
Should either series stretch to the full seven games, the NLCS will wrap up on October 21, and the ALCS will conclude on October 22.
The Pinnacle: The World Series
The culminating event 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 fewer, the World Series could be moved up to October 22.
Game 2 is currently scheduled for October 26, with subsequent games planned for October 28 and October 29. If necessary, Game 6 will be on November 1, and a winner-take-all Game 7 is slated for November 2.
Baseball fans can expect a postseason filled with epic matchups, potential upsets, and the eventual crowning of the next World Series champion. As the teams gear up for the intense October battles, the excitement and anticipation continue to build, promising a memorable and exhilarating playoff season.