The 2024 MLB Playoff schedule kicks off on October 1st, 2024. Similar to last season, the Wild Card round of play starts the playoffs for both the American and National Leagues. The opening round is a best of three game playoff that is played on three consecutive days (or until one team wins two games). The playoff schedule concludes with the 2024 World Series that starts on Friday, October 25th, 2024.
*Updated 1 August 2024.
How Many MLB Teams Make the Playoffs?
Starting in 2022, MLB changed up the playoff format to get more teams involved. This resulted in the expanded Wild Card round of play that we enjoy today. There will be 12 teams who earn a spot in the 2024 MLB postseason. Six teams from both the National and the American League earn spots. Three of these are divisional winners and three earn spots as Wild Cards.
What is the 2024 MLB Playoff Schedule?
Please keep in mind that October is a long way away. Major League Baseball (MLB) can always adjust the days / times as they deem fit for the good of the game or deconfliction with other events. Beyond the Wild Card Series, the dates can fluctuate based on how long each series takes. If the 2024 World Series goes the full seven games, then we will see the “October Classic” wrap up in November again this postseason.
Wild Card Series (Best of 3 games): October 1-3, 2024
Division Series (Best of 5): October 5-10.
Championship Series (Best of 7): October 11-20.
World Series Schedule (Best of 7): October 25-November 2.
***Big Update: If both the ALCS and NLCS get done by October 19th, the World Series schedule starts earlier. It would then commence October 22nd and run through October 30th if seven games are required from the recent release from MLB.
How Many Rounds of Play are in the MLB Playoffs?
The 2024 MLB Playoffs have four rounds of play. Each round is a series between two teams playing a “best of” single elimination formatted bracket. If you are new to baseball (or just haven’t paid attention in a while), the rounds are: Wild Card, Divisional, League Championship, and the World Series. In the past, MLB had used a single-elimination Wild Card Game but scrapped that format with the most recent changes to the playoffs.
How Does the Wild Card Series Work?
First, MLB uses this seeding format for both the American and National League. The #1 seed in each league has the best record period. The #2 seed has the second best record and is a division winner. The #3 seed is the third best record for a division winner. #4, #5, and the #6 seeds are the best records of the non-divisional winners. Then, in the Wild Card Series, #3 plays #6, and #4 plays #5. To minimize delays, there are no off-days in the Wild Card round. The better seed will host all three games (if necessary to play three).
Who Gets Home-Field Advantage in the World Series?
No more All-Star game nonsense for home field advantage. Now, the team with the best regular season record gets the World Series home field advantage. They will host the first game regardless of seeding. If there is a game 7, it will also be played on their field. If both teams have the same regular season records, then the standard MLB divisional tiebreaker rule set is used to determine who has the advantage. Once that is all set, then MLB finalizes the 2024 World Series schedule for us.
How Does the MLB Division Title Tiebreaker Work?
With the change in the MLB Playoff format, there is no longer the possibility for a 163rd game to determine a tiebreaker. Instead, MLB first uses the two teams’ head-head records. If they are still tied, then the following metrics are used: record against other teams in their division, record against other teams in their league but outside their division. Then, the record of their last half of intraleague games. If still tied somehow, then those + 1 more.
Can I get a 2024 MLB Playoff Bracket?
If you are more of a visual type that prefers a bracket, we have a printable 2024 MLB playoff bracket for you. The bracket is in PDF format and is fillable for you to project potential playoff possibilities for the postseason. Everyone will be following the Yankees and the Dodgers this season to see if we see them both face off in the 2024 World Series. Odds are, both teams will not make it since that is the beauty of baseball. It has been a fun season already. Who woulda thought the Guardians would be the #1 seed at the midpoint of the season in the AL? Still lots of baseball left to play.
2024 MLB Playoff Schedule – Games and TV Broadcasts
We have the details now of the 2024 MLB Playoff schedule. We know which days each game of each round of the playoffs is going to take place. We also know which TV network is assigned to the game(s). Where you see ESPN Platforms, that is likely going to be ESPN or ABC. It could be any of the ESPN networks though depending on what’s going on with the other sports that ESPN is showing on a given day. More specificity closer to the time there.
Wild Card Series Schedule – 2024
Tuesday, Oct. 1 |
American League Wild Card A, Game 1 (ESPN Platforms) |
American League Wild Card B, Game 1 (ESPN Platforms) |
National League Wild Card A, Game 1 (ESPN Platforms) |
National League Wild Card B, Game 1 (ESPN Platforms) |
Wednesday, Oct. 2 |
American League Wild Card A, Game 2 (ESPN Platforms) |
American League Wild Card B, Game 2 (ESPN Platforms) |
National League Wild Card A, Game 2 (ESPN Platforms) |
National League Wild Card B, Game 2 (ESPN Platforms) |
Thursday, Oct. 3 |
American League Wild Card A, Game 3* (ESPN Platforms) |
American League Wild Card B, Game 3* (ESPN Platforms) |
National League Wild Card A, Game 3* (ESPN Platforms) |
National League Wild Card B, Game 3* (ESPN Platforms) |
*(if necessary) |
AL WILD CARD ROUND (All games hosted by higher seed)
Tigers (No. 6 seed) at Astros (No. 3)
Game 1: Tuesday, 2:32 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 2: Wednesday, 2:32 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 3^: Thursday, 2:32 p.m. ET (ABC)
^If necessary
Royals (No. 5 seed) at Orioles (No. 4)
Game 1: Tuesday, 4:08 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Game 2: Wednesday, 4:38 pm ET (ESPN)
Game 3^: Thursday, 4:08 pm ET (ESPN)
^If necessary
NL WILD CARD ROUND (All games hosted by higher seed)
Mets (No. 6 seed) at Brewers (No. 3)
Game 1: Tuesday, 5:32 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 2: Wednesday, 7:38 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 3^: Thursday, 8:38 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
^If necessary
Braves (No. 5 seed) at Padres (No. 4)
Game 1: Tuesday, 8:38 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 2: Wednesday, 8:38 pm ET (ESPN2)
Game 3^: Thursday, 7:08 pm ET (ESPN)
^If necessary
MLB Division Series Schedule – 2024
Saturday, Oct. 5 |
ALDS A, Game 1 (TBS, truTV, Max) |
ALDS B, Game 1 (TBS, Max) |
NLDS A, Game 1 (FOX/FS1) |
NLDS B, Game 1 (FOX/FS1) |
Sunday, Oct. 6 |
NLDS A, Game 2 (FOX/FS1) |
NLDS B, Game 2 (FOX/FS1) |
Monday, Oct. 7 |
ALDS A, Game 2 (TBS, truTV, Max) |
ALDS B, Game 2 (TBS, truTV, Max) |
Tuesday, Oct. 8 |
NLDS A, Game 3 (FOX/FS1) |
NLDS B, Game 3 (FOX/FS1) |
Wednesday, Oct. 9 |
ALDS A, Game 3 (TBS, truTV, Max) |
ALDS B, Game 3 (TBS, truTV, Max) |
NLDS A, Game 4* (FOX/FS1) |
NLDS B, Game 4* (FOX/FS1) |
Thursday, Oct. 10 |
ALDS A, Game 4* (TBS, truTV, Max) |
ALDS B, Game 4* (TBS, truTV, Max) |
Friday, Oct. 11 |
NLDS A, Game 5* (FOX/FS1) |
NLDS B, Game 5* (FOX/FS1) |
Saturday, Oct. 12 |
ALDS A, Game 5* (TBS, Max) |
ALDS B, Game 5* (TBS, Max) |
*(if necessary) |
AL DIVISION SERIES
Yankees (No. 1 seed)
Will face winner of Royals-Orioles series
Game 1: Saturday, Time TBD (TBS)
Guardians (No. 2 seed)
Will face winner of Tigers-Astros series
Game 1: Saturday, Time TBD (TBS)
NL DIVISION SERIES
Dodgers (No. 1 seed)
Will face winner of Braves-Padres series
Game 1: Saturday, Time TBD (FOX/FS1)
Phillies (No. 2 seed)
Will face winner of Mets-Brewers series
Game 1: Saturday, Time TBD (FOX/FS1)
MLB League Championship Series Schedule – 2024
Sunday, Oct. 13 |
NLCS Game 1 (FOX/FS1) |
Monday, Oct. 14 |
ALCS Game 1 (TBS, truTV, Max) |
NLCS Game 2 (FOX/FS1) |
Tuesday, Oct. 15 |
ALCS Game 2 (TBS, truTV, Max) |
Wednesday, Oct. 16 |
NLCS Game 3 (FOX/FS1) |
Thursday, Oct. 17 |
ALCS Game 3 (TBS, truTV, Max) |
NLCS Game 4 (FOX/FS1) |
Friday, Oct. 18 |
ALCS Game 4 (TBS, truTV, Max) |
NLCS Game 5* (FOX/FS1) |
Saturday, Oct. 19 |
ALCS Game 5* (TBS, truTV, Max) |
Sunday, Oct. 20 |
NLCS Game 6* (FOX/FS1) |
Monday, Oct. 21 |
ALCS Game 6* (TBS, truTV, Max) |
NLCS Game 7* (FOX/FS1) |
Tuesday, Oct. 22 |
ALCS Game 7* (TBS, truTV, Max) |
*(if necessary) |
2024 World Series Schedule
*Note: If the ALCS and NLCS are done by the 19th, game 1 of the World Series moves to Tuesday, October 22nd. The team with the better regular season record is the home team for games 1, 2, 6, and 7.
Friday, Oct. 25 |
Game 1, at better 2024 record (FOX) |
Saturday, Oct. 26 |
Game 2, at better 2024 record (FOX) |
Monday, Oct. 28 |
Game 3 (FOX) |
Tuesday, Oct. 29 |
Game 4 (FOX) |
Wednesday, Oct. 30 |
Game 5* (FOX) |
Friday, Nov. 1 |
Game 6*, at better 2024 record (FOX) |
Saturday, Nov. 2 |
Game 7*, at better 2024 record (FOX) |
*(if necessary) |