Major League Baseball (MLB) has rolled out the much-anticipated schedule for the 2024 playoffs, promising a postseason brimming with action, strategy, and no-holds-barred competition. The new format, which eliminates the one-game playoffs, aims to heighten the excitement while providing teams with a fairer battleground to contest their championship aspirations.
Regular Season Conclusion
The regular season is set to culminate on Sunday, Sept. 29. As teams scramble for the remaining postseason spots, this date marks the final chance for clubs to secure their place in October baseball.
Wild Card Series
Kicking off the playoff frenzy, the Wild Card Series starts on Tuesday, Oct. 1. This initial round of the postseason introduces a three-game series with no travel, a departure from the previous one-game wild card showdowns. The third division winner and the top Wild Card team in each league will have the home-field advantage, hosting the entirety of the series. Should any Game 3s be necessary, they will be played on Thursday, Oct. 3.
Division Series
The Division Series takes center stage starting Saturday, Oct. 5. The top two division winners in each league will enjoy the advantage of hosting Games 1, 2, and, if necessary, Game 5. National League Division Series (NLDS) Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 6, while the American League Division Series (ALDS) Game 2 will take place on Monday, Oct. 7. This head-to-head battle continues with NLDS Game 3 on Tuesday, Oct. 8, followed by ALDS Games 3 and potential NLDS Game 4 on Wednesday, Oct. 9. ALDS Game 4 will occur on Thursday, Oct. 10, wrapping up with potential decisive games on Friday, Oct. 11 (NLDS Game 5) and Saturday, Oct. 12 (ALDS Game 5).
League Championship Series
The path to the World Series continues with the National League Championship Series (NLCS) beginning on Sunday, Oct. 13. NLCS Game 2 and the first game of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) will both be held on Monday, Oct. 14. ALCS Game 2 will follow on Tuesday, Oct. 15, keeping the momentum building up. The series shifts locale with NLCS Game 3 on Wednesday, Oct. 16, followed by NLCS Game 4 and ALCS Game 3 on Thursday, Oct. 17. Possible elimination games include NLCS Game 5 and ALCS Game 4 on Friday, Oct. 18, with ALCS Game 5 penciled in for Saturday, Oct. 19. Should the series extend, fans can look forward to NLCS Game 6 on Sunday, Oct. 20, with potential ALCS Game 6 and NLCS Game 7 slated for Monday, Oct. 21. A decisive ALCS Game 7, if required, will be contested on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
World Series
Transitioning to the championship showdown, if the League Championship Series concludes by Oct. 19, the Fall Classic will launch on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Under the scheduled dates, the World Series will commence on Friday, Oct. 25, with Game 2 on Saturday, Oct. 26. A breather for travel is built in before the fervor resumes with Games 3 and 4 on Monday, Oct. 28, and Tuesday, Oct. 29, respectively.
Should the competition extend to five games, they'll clash on Wednesday, Oct. 30. If a full seven-game series is in the cards, the critical games will be held on Friday, Nov. 1, and the potential championship-deciding Game 7 on Saturday, Nov. 2. The team boasting a superior regular-season record will have the privilege of hosting Games 1, 2, and, if necessary, Games 6 and 7.
As MLB fans speculate and strategize over their favorite teams' trajectories, this detailed scheduling lays a clear roadmap. From the intensive Wild Card battles to the climactic World Series, the 2024 postseason promises an electric atmosphere filled with unrelenting competition, defined by strategy, skill, and determination.