Major League Baseball's highly anticipated 2024 playoff schedule has been unveiled, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling postseason. The action will commence on October 1 with the opening games of the Wild Card Series.
The Wild Card round features eight teams who will compete in a best-of-three format, vying for spots in the League Division Series (LDS). In a fierce battle, the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds in each league will host the No. 6 and No. 5 teams, respectively.
Wild Card Showdowns
The New York Mets and Atlanta Braves have clinched the final two postseason spots. The Mets are set to travel to Milwaukee to face the Brewers, while the Braves head west to battle the Padres. Other Wild Card matchups include the Baltimore Orioles hosting the Kansas City Royals and the Houston Astros facing off against the Detroit Tigers.
Game 1 for all Wild Card matchups will take place on October 1, followed by Game 2 on October 2. If any series requires a decisive third game, it will be played on October 3. The stakes are high, as only the victors will advance to the next phase of the playoffs.
League Division Series
The League Division Series will kick off on October 5, with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, and Cleveland Guardians having earned byes directly to this round. These teams benefit from additional preparation time as their opponents battle through the Wild Card Series.
On October 5, the Guardians and Yankees will begin their LDS journeys alongside the Phillies and Dodgers. Game 2 for the Phillies and Dodgers is scheduled for October 6, while the Guardians and Yankees will play their second games on October 7. If the series extend to the full five games, decisive Game 5s will be held on October 11 and 12 for the National and American League Divisions, respectively.
League Championship Series
The excitement continues with the League Championship Series, which will commence on October 13 for the National League and October 14 for the American League. These series will feature the league's top teams vying for a coveted spot in the World Series. Game 2 of the NLCS will take place on October 14, and Game 2 of the ALCS will follow on October 15. Should the series extend to their full seven games, the NLCS will wrap up on October 21, with the ALCS concluding a day later on October 22.
World Series: The Pinnacle of the Postseason
The grand finale of Major League Baseball’s 2024 season is tentatively set to start on October 25 with the World Series. However, there is a possibility the start date could be moved up to October 22, depending on the duration of the League Championship Series. Game 2 of the World Series is scheduled for October 26, with subsequent games planned for October 28 and October 29.
If the World Series extends beyond the initial games, fans can look forward to Game 6 on November 1 and a potential all-deciding Game 7 on November 2. As teams battle it out for ultimate glory, the MLB postseason is poised to deliver unforgettable moments, epic matchups, and potential upsets.
The road to the World Series is fraught with intense competition and high stakes, ensuring that fans are in for a treat. With storied franchises and underdog teams alike vying for success, the 2024 MLB playoffs promise a spectacle that will capture the hearts and minds of baseball enthusiasts everywhere.