Major League Baseball has officially released the much-anticipated schedule for the 2024 playoffs, marking a new chapter in postseason action.
The regular season will culminate on Sunday, Sept. 29, setting the stage for a revamped playoff format. Gone are the days of the high-stakes, single-game playoffs. Instead, fans can look forward to an expanded Wild Card Series beginning on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
Wild Card Series: New Format, New Excitement
This year’s Wild Card Series introduces a three-game face-off with no travel, promising intense and localized showdowns. Both the third division winner and the top Wild Card team in each league will host these pivotal matchups.
The series kicks off on Oct. 1 and continues on Wednesday, Oct. 2, with any necessary Game 3s scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 3. This setup ensures that teams have a fair, competitive platform to advance to the next stage of the postseason, all while maintaining the excitement and unpredictability that fans crave.
Division Series Action
As the dust begins to settle on the Wild Card Series, the playoffs ramp up with the Division Series starting on Saturday, Oct. 5. The top two division winners in each league will play host to Games 1, 2, and, if necessary, Game 5 of the Division Series, providing a significant home-field advantage.
NLDS Game 2 is set for Sunday, Oct. 6, followed by ALDS Game 2 on Monday, Oct. 7. The intensity continues with NLDS Game 3 on Tuesday, Oct. 8, and ALDS Games 3 and potential NLDS Game 4s on Wednesday, Oct. 9. The series progress with ALDS Game 4 on Thursday, Oct. 10, and NLDS Game 5 on Friday, Oct. 11, if needed. Potential Game 5 of the ALDS rounds out this stage on Saturday, Oct. 12.
Championship Series Drama Unfolds
The drama escalates as the National League Championship Series (NLCS) begins on Sunday, Oct. 13. Each game will bring teams one step closer to the ultimate prize, and fans should prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions.
NLCS Game 2 and ALCS Game 1 are slated for Monday, Oct. 14, followed by ALCS Game 2 on Tuesday, Oct. 15. NLCS Game 3 takes place on Wednesday, Oct. 16, with NLCS Game 4 and ALCS Game 3 on Thursday, Oct. 17. The series could extend to Friday, Oct. 18, for potential ALCS Game 4 and NLCS Game 5, and further to Saturday, Oct. 19, with potential ALCS Game 5. The high stakes and potential elimination games will culminate with NLCS Game 6 on Sunday, Oct. 20, and potential ALCS Game 6 and NLCS Game 7 on Monday, Oct. 21. If the series still needs resolving, potential ALCS Game 7 is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 22.
World Series: The Pinnacle of Baseball Glory
The stage is then set for the ultimate showdown: the World Series. If the League Championship Series conclude by Saturday, Oct. 19, the World Series will commence on Tuesday, Oct. 22. However, the anticipation builds as the first game is officially scheduled for Friday, Oct. 25.
World Series Game 2 follows on Saturday, Oct. 26, with a much-needed travel day preceding Games 3 and 4, slated for Monday, Oct. 28, and Tuesday, Oct. 29, respectively. Should the series extend beyond, a potential Game 5 could be held on Wednesday, Oct. 30.
The atmosphere will be electric if the World Series runs the full seven games, culminating with Game 6 on Friday, Nov. 1, and the decisive Game 7 on Saturday, Nov. 2. The team with the superior regular-season record in each league will host Games 1, 2, and, if necessary, Games 6 and 7, a crucial advantage for the contenders vying for baseball's most prestigious title.
As MLB moves forward with this new playoff structure, fans can expect a postseason filled with unforgettable moments and historic battles. The 2024 playoffs promise to deliver all the thrills, excitement, and heartaches that make baseball’s fall classic an enduring spectacle.