Major League Baseball (MLB) has released the schedule for the 2024 playoffs, setting the stage for a thrilling postseason. The regular season will wrap up on Sunday, September 29, and fans will immediately turn their attention to the much-anticipated playoffs. This year, several key changes promise to make the postseason even more exciting.
Wild Card Series Changes
Kicking off on Tuesday, October 1, the Wild Card Series marks a significant departure from previous years. Gone are the tense one-game playoffs; instead, teams will now face off in a three-game series. Importantly, there will be no travel during these series, which are hosted by the third division winner and the top Wild Card team in each league. Wild Card Series games continue on Wednesday, October 2, with potential Game 3s scheduled for Thursday, October 3.
Division Series Setup
The action intensifies with the Division Series starting on Saturday, October 5. The top two division winners in each league will have the advantage of hosting Games 1, 2, and, if necessary, Game 5. This format provides a clear reward for regular-season excellence. Specific dates for the Division Series games include NLDS Game 2 on Sunday, October 6, and ALDS Game 2 on Monday, October 7. The NLDS Game 3 is set for Tuesday, October 8, with ALDS games 3 and potential NLDS Game 4s on Wednesday, October 9.
Fans will look forward to ALDS Game 4 on Thursday, October 10, and if necessary, NLDS Game 5 on Friday, October 11, and ALDS Game 5 on Saturday, October 12.
Championship Series Details
The National League Championship Series (NLCS) will begin on Sunday, October 13. The series will proceed with NLCS Game 2 and ALCS Game 1 both scheduled for Monday, October 14. ALCS Game 2 is on Tuesday, October 15, and NLCS Game 3 on Wednesday, October 16. The schedule continues with NLCS Game 4 and ALCS Game 3 on Thursday, October 17.
Potential matchups include ALCS Game 4 and NLCS Game 5 on Friday, October 18, with ALCS Game 5 on Saturday, October 19. If the series extends to its fullest, NLCS Game 6 will be on Sunday, October 20, and NLCS Game 7 and ALCS Game 6 on Monday, October 21. The final potential game of the ALCS, Game 7, could take place on Tuesday, October 22.
World Series Schedule
After the League Championship Series, the pinnacle of the MLB season, the World Series, will command the sports world's attention. If both championship series conclude by Saturday, October 19, the World Series will begin on Tuesday, October 22. Otherwise, the first game is slated for Friday, October 25. Game 2 follows on Saturday, October 26. There will be a travel day before Games 3 and 4 on Monday, October 28, and Tuesday, October 29, respectively.
If the series extends, Game 5 could be on Wednesday, October 30. Should the series go the distance, Game 6 will be on Friday, November 1, and the decisive Game 7 on Saturday, November 2. Notably, the team with the superior regular-season record in each league will host Games 1, 2, and, if necessary, Games 6 and 7, giving them a potential home-field advantage.
The 2024 MLB postseason schedule sets up a thrilling sequence of games that reward excellent regular-season performance and minimize travel. As the regular season winds down, teams and fans alike will gear up for what promises to be a memorable playoff run.