As the excitement of the regular Major League Baseball (MLB) season culminates, fans eagerly anticipate the most thrilling time of the year: the MLB playoffs.
From wild card games to the World Series, the MLB playoff schedule offers a structured path to crown the season’s champion. In this blog, we’ll dive into the details of the MLB playoff schedule, how it works, and what fans can expect as the postseason unfolds.
Understanding the MLB Playoff Structure
Before diving into the details of the 2024 MLB Playoff Schedule, it’s important to understand how the playoffs work. The MLB playoffs consist of four rounds: the Wild Card Series, the Division Series, the League Championship Series, and the World Series. Here’s a quick breakdown of each:
- Wild Card Series: This is the first round of the playoffs, featuring two best-of-three series between the lowest-seeded teams. The winners advance to the Division Series.
- Division Series: In this round, the winners of the Wild Card Series face the top-seeded teams in their respective leagues. The series is a best-of-five format.
- League Championship Series (LCS): The winners of the Division Series move on to the LCS, a best-of-seven series to determine the American League (AL) and National League (NL) champions.
- World Series: The champions of the AL and NL face off in the World Series, a best-of-seven series to determine the overall MLB champion.
2024 MLB Playoff Key Dates
The 2024 MLB postseason will follow a similar structure to previous years, starting with the Wild Card games in early October and culminating with the World Series in late October or early November. Below are the key dates to mark on your calendar for the 2024 MLB playoffs:
- October 1, 2024: Wild Card Series begins
- October 5, 2024: Division Series starts
- October 12, 2024: League Championship Series kicks off
- October 23, 2024: World Series Game 1
- October 31, 2024: World Series Game 7 (if necessary)
The dates may shift slightly due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather delays or game tiebreakers, but these are the anticipated dates for each round of the playoffs.
How Teams Qualify for the Playoffs
In the MLB, teams qualify for the playoffs based on their performance during the regular season. A total of 12 teams make it to the postseason—six from the American League and six from the National League. These teams are divided into the following categories:
- Division Winners: The teams with the best records in their divisions (East, Central, and West) automatically qualify for the playoffs. They are seeded 1 through 3.
- Wild Card Teams: The next three teams with the best records in each league, but who didn’t win their division, qualify as Wild Cards. They are seeded 4 through 6.
The higher-seeded teams receive certain advantages, such as home-field advantage in the Division Series and League Championship Series, depending on their regular-season performance.
MLB Playoff Schedule: Wild Card Series Breakdown
The Wild Card Series is the first round of the MLB playoffs, and it usually lasts about three to four days. The Wild Card Series will be played in early October, right after the regular season ends. The two matchups in each league will be:
- No. 3 Seed vs. No. 6 Seed
- No. 4 Seed vs. No. 5 Seed
This best-of-three series will be played entirely at the higher-seeded team’s home ballpark, giving them a slight edge.
MLB Division Series Schedule
The Division Series will follow the conclusion of the Wild Card Series. In this round, the teams with the best regular-season records (the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds) will face off against the winners of the Wild Card games. These matchups are set up as follows:
- No. 1 Seed vs. Winner of No. 4 Seed vs. No. 5 Seed Wild Card Series
- No. 2 Seed vs. Winner of No. 3 Seed vs. No. 6 Seed Wild Card Series
The Division Series is a best-of-five format, with the higher-seeded team having home-field advantage in the majority of the games.
League Championship Series (ALCS & NLCS)
After the Division Series concludes, the remaining two teams in each league will face off in the League Championship Series. This best-of-seven series will determine the American League and National League champions. The team with the better regular-season record will have home-field advantage in the LCS.
The Road to the World Series
The World Series is the ultimate prize in Major League Baseball, and teams fight all season long for a chance to compete in this historic event.
The World Series is a best-of-seven showdown between the champions of the American League and the National League. The team with the better regular-season record will have home-field advantage for four of the seven games.
The 2024 World Series is scheduled to begin on October 23, 2024, with Game 7 (if necessary) planned for October 31, 2024. This series will be televised nationally, with millions of fans tuning in to see who will be crowned the 2024 MLB champions.
How to Watch the 2024 MLB Playoffs
For fans eager to catch every pitch of the 2024 MLB playoffs, there are several ways to tune in. Major networks like FOX, TBS, and ESPN will broadcast the games, with the World Series typically airing on FOX.
Additionally, for fans who prefer streaming, platforms such as MLB.TV, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV will offer live coverage of the games.
Keep in mind that blackout restrictions may apply, especially for local games, so it’s always a good idea to check the broadcast schedule and your local listings to avoid missing any action.
Players to Watch in the 2024 MLB Playoffs
As the MLB playoffs approach, all eyes will be on the biggest stars in the game. Players like Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Aaron Judge are expected to be major contributors to their teams’ postseason success.
Additionally, pitchers such as Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, and Gerrit Cole will likely dominate on the mound, making for some intense matchups.
These players, along with several rising stars, will be key to their teams’ performance, and their ability to rise to the occasion will be crucial in determining who will take home the World Series trophy.
MLB Playoff History: Memorable Moments
The MLB postseason has produced some of the most memorable moments in sports history. From Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series to David Freese’s heroics in the 2011 World Series, the playoffs are filled with legendary moments that have defined baseball for generations.
As we head into the 2024 MLB postseason, fans are eager to see which new moments will be added to the history books. Could it be a no-hitter in the playoffs? A dramatic walk-off home run? Or perhaps a new team will emerge as a surprise contender?
Conclusion
The 2024 MLB playoff schedule promises to deliver the excitement and drama that baseball fans have come to expect from the postseason.
With the top teams in the league battling it out for a chance to win the World Series, there’s no better time to be a baseball fan. Whether you’re cheering for your favorite team or just enjoying the thrill of October baseball, the 2024 MLB playoffs are sure to be unforgettable.
FAQ’s
The 2024 MLB playoffs are scheduled to begin on October 1, 2024, with the Wild Card Series.
A total of 12 teams (six from each league) qualify for the playoffs, including three division winners and three Wild Card teams from each league.
The Wild Card Series is a best-of-three series between the No. 3 Seed vs. No. 6 Seed and the No. 4 Seed vs. No. 5 Seed in each league. The higher-seeded team hosts all the games.
The World Series is a best-of-seven series between the champions of the American League and the National League. The team with the better regular-season record gets home-field advantage.
The 2024 World Series is scheduled to begin on October 23, 2024, with a potential Game 7 on October 31, 2024.