Major League Baseball's 2024 playoff schedule has been revealed, setting the stage for what promises to be an electrifying postseason. The action kicks off on October 1 with the commencement of the Wild Card Series, a round that will feature eight teams battling it out in a best-of-three format to secure their spots in the League Division Series (LDS).
Teams and Matchups
The No. 3 and No. 4 seeds in each league will play host to the No. 6 and No. 5 teams, respectively. Particularly notable is the entry of the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves, both of whom clinched the final two spots for the postseason. The Mets will head to Milwaukee to face the Brewers, while the Braves will travel west to meet the Padres. Fans can also anticipate a thrilling matchup as the Baltimore Orioles host the Kansas City Royals, and another where the Houston Astros take on the Detroit Tigers.
The Wild Card Series will see all Game 1 matchups unfold 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. These matchups promise to set an electrifying tone for the subsequent stages of the playoffs.
League Division Series
October 5 marks the start of the League Division Series, introducing four heavyweights who earned direct byes: the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, and Cleveland Guardians. The Guardians and Yankees, alongside the Phillies and Dodgers, will kick off their postseason journeys on the same day. Game 2 for the Phillies and Dodgers is set for October 6, while the Guardians and Yankees play their second games on October 7. Should the series go the distance, decisive Game 5s will be held on October 11 and 12 for the National and American League Divisions, respectively.
League Championship Series
Transitioning into the League Championship Series, the excitement intensifies. The National League Championship Series begins on October 13, with Game 2 following on October 14. The American League Championship Series kicks off on October 14, and its Game 2 is scheduled for October 15. If these series extend to the full seven games, the NLCS will wrap up on October 21, and the ALCS will conclude on October 22.
World Series
The climax of the MLB postseason, the World Series, is tentatively set to start 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 scheduled for October 26, followed by subsequent games on October 28 and 29. Should the competition need it, Game 6 will be held on November 1, with a potential Game 7 on November 2.
Anticipation and Enthusiasm
The MLB postseason is primed to deliver maximum excitement, with fans eagerly awaiting epic matchups, potential upsets, and the crowning of the next World Series victor. The revealed schedule indicates a thrilling series of events, ensuring that baseball aficionados will be on the edge of their seats from the first pitch of the Wild Card Series to the final out of the World Series.