Major League Baseball has unveiled its 2024 playoff schedule, setting the stage for an exhilarating postseason. Action begins on October 1 with the Wild Card Series, where eight teams will compete in a high-stakes best-of-three format. The victors will advance to the League Division Series (LDS), slated to start on October 5.
Wild Card Showdowns
This year’s Wild Card Series is packed with enticing matchups. The New York Mets, having clinched one of the final two postseason spots, will travel to Milwaukee to face the Brewers. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves head west to take on the San Diego Padres. Both series promise to be tightly contested.
In the American League, the Baltimore Orioles will host the Kansas City Royals, while the Houston Astros will face off against the Detroit Tigers. For all Wild Card matchups, Game 1 is scheduled for October 1, with Game 2 following on October 2. Should any series go the distance, a decisive Game 3 will be played on October 3.
Top Seeds on Standby
While the Wild Card teams battle it out, four teams have earned byes directly to the LDS, reflecting their stellar regular-season performances. The Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies hold this distinction in the National League, while the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians do so in the American League.
The LDS begins on October 5 when the Guardians and Yankees, along with the Phillies and Dodgers, kick off their journeys toward the championship. Game 2 for the Phillies and Dodgers follows on October 6, with the Yankees and Guardians playing their second games on October 7. If necessary, decisive Game 5s will take place on October 11 and 12 for the National and American League Divisions, respectively.
League Championship Stakes
October 13 marks the start of the National League Championship Series (NLCS), followed a day later by the American League Championship Series (ALCS) on October 14. Should either series extend to its full seven-game potential, the NLCS will culminate on October 21, with the ALCS wrapping up on October 22.
Fans can anticipate back-to-back action as Game 2 of the NLCS is set for October 14, with Game 2 of the ALCS on October 15. The tension is sure to build with every pitch, as the remaining teams vie for a coveted spot in the World Series.
The Pinnacle: World Series
The World Series is tentatively slated to begin on October 25. However, should both the ALCS and NLCS conclude in five games or fewer, the start date could be moved up to October 22. Game 2 is scheduled for October 26, with subsequent games on October 28 and 29. If the series requires additional drama, Game 6 and Game 7 will be played on November 1 and November 2, respectively.
The 2024 MLB postseason promises to be a spectacle of athletic excellence and competitive fervor. Fans are bracing for epic matchups, potential upsets, and the crowning of the next World Series champion, as America’s pastime reaches its most thrilling apex.