October is right around the corner, and with it comes the excitement and intensity of Major League Baseball's much-anticipated 2024 postseason. The playoff schedule was recently unveiled, laying out the roadmap to determine this year's World Series champion.
The journey begins with the Wild Card Series on October 1, featuring eight teams engaging in best-of-three battles to advance to the League Division Series (LDS). This initial round sees the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds in each league hosting the No. 6 and No. 5 teams, respectively.
The New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves narrowly clinched the final postseason spots. The Mets will travel to Milwaukee to take on the Brewers, while the Braves will head west to face the Padres in San Diego. On the other side of the bracket, the Baltimore Orioles will welcome the Kansas City Royals, and the Houston Astros will host the Detroit Tigers.
Game 1 of all Wild Card matchups is set for October 1, followed by Game 2 on October 2. If any series requires a decisive third game, it will be played on October 3. This format ensures that fans will witness high-stakes action right from the outset.
League Division Series on the Horizon
The League Division Series kicks off just two days later on October 5. Four teams have earned byes directly to this round due to their stellar regular-season performances: the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, and Cleveland Guardians. These teams will be fresh and ready to capitalize on their home-field advantage.
The Dodgers and Phillies will begin their LDS journey on October 5, with Game 2 scheduled for October 6. Meanwhile, the Yankees and Guardians will also start their campaigns on October 5 and continue with Game 2 on October 7. Should any of these series extend to a decisive Game 5, fans can mark their calendars for October 11 and 12 for the National and American League Divisions, respectively.
Next Stop: League Championship Series
Victors from the LDS will advance to the League Championship Series, starting on October 13 for the National League and October 14 for the American League. Game 2 for the NLCS is on October 14, while the ALCS follows suit on October 15. If either series goes the distance, expect a full seven games, with the NLCS concluding on October 21 and the ALCS wrapping up on October 22.
The Grand Finale: World Series
The culmination of the MLB postseason, the World Series, is tentatively set to begin on October 25. However, there's a possibility it could be moved up to October 22 if both the ALCS and NLCS conclude in five games or fewer. Game 2 of the World Series is slated for October 26, with subsequent games on October 28 and 29. Should the series extend to six or seven games, fans can expect the championship drama to unfold on November 1 and 2.
This year's postseason promises to deliver the maximum excitement that fans have come to expect from October baseball. The potential for epic matchups, thrilling upsets, and dramatic moments is high as teams vie for the ultimate prize in professional baseball—the World Series title.