Major League Baseball has officially set the stage for the 2024 playoffs, with an exciting schedule now unveiled. The postseason action is set to ignite following the conclusion of the regular season on Sunday, September 29.
New Postseason Format
In a departure from previous seasons, the 2024 playoffs will not feature the one-game playoffs that once decided Wild Card winners. Instead, the format has been updated to allow the Wild Card Series to kick off on Tuesday, October 1. This year, the Wild Card Series will consist of a three-game face-off with no travel, aimed at minimizing fatigue and ensuring that the highest-seeded teams play host.
Wild Card and Division Series Schedule
The intensity of the playoffs will be immediately felt as the action continues on Wednesday, October 2, with the potential for any necessary Game 3s to take place on Thursday, October 3. The third division winner and the top Wild Card team in each league will host these critical Wild Card Series matchups, setting the stage for high-stakes baseball right from the start.
Following the conclusion of the Wild Card Series, the Division Series will commence on Saturday, October 5. In this phase, the top two division winners in each league will host Games 1, 2, and, if necessary, Game 5, ensuring a familiar home-field advantage for the best teams. Schedule highlights include NLDS Game 2 on Sunday, October 6, and ALDS Game 2 on Monday, October 7. The series will progress through the week, culminating with potential Game 5s on Friday, October 11 (NLDS) and Saturday, October 12 (ALDS).
League Championship Series
The National League Championship Series (NLCS) kicks off on Sunday, October 13, followed by NLCS Game 2 and the start of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) on Monday, October 14. The ALCS will continue on Tuesday, October 15, while the NLCS resumes with Game 3 on Wednesday, October 16. These series will carry on with potential Game 7s scheduled for Monday, October 21 (NLCS) and Tuesday, October 22 (ALCS).
The Road to the World Series
If the League Championship Series conclude by October 19, the World Series is slated to begin on Tuesday, October 22. Otherwise, Game 1 of the World Series will take place on Friday, October 25, in line with the conventional playoffs schedule. The second game will follow immediately on Saturday, October 26, preceding a travel day before Games 3 and 4, scheduled for Monday, October 28, and Tuesday, October 29, respectively.
In a thrilling climax, if the World Series extends to the full seven games, fans can expect Game 6 on Friday, November 1, and Game 7 on Saturday, November 2. In this deciding series, the team boasting the superior regular-season record from each league will earn the advantage of hosting Games 1, 2, and, if necessary, Games 6 and 7, potentially giving them the crucial edge needed to clinch the championship title.
The 2024 MLB playoffs promise a blend of suspense and exceptional competition, with a meticulously planned schedule that ensures fans won't miss a moment of the action. As the regular season draws to a close, the anticipation for October baseball reaches its peak, and teams gear up for a postseason filled with historical relevance and sporting excellence. Baseball enthusiasts everywhere eagerly await the spectacle of the playoffs, where new legends will be born and unforgettable moments will undoubtedly unfold.