The 2024 MLB postseason is just around the corner, and the wild card series is set to kick off on October 1. Heres a breakdown of the current playoff picture and the schedule for the upcoming games.
Current Playoff Picture
In the American League, the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians have clinched playoff spots and will receive byes to the Division Series. The Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros are also poised to secure their spots, with the Orioles needing just three more wins to clinch and the Astros requiring four to secure the AL West title. The Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins are in the running for the remaining wild-card spots, with the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners still in contention but facing stiffer competition.
In the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Milwaukee Brewers have secured their playoff berths. The San Diego Padres have also clinched a postseason spot, while the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets are battling for the remaining wild-card positions along with the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs.
Wild Card Series Schedule
The wild card series will begin on Tuesday, October 1, and will consist of best-of-three games. Here are the potential matchups: In the American League, the (4) Orioles will host the (5) Royals, and the (3) Astros will host the (6) Twins. In the National League, the (4) Padres will host the (5) Diamondbacks, and the (3) Brewers will host the (6) Mets.
Each wild card series will be played at the home stadium of the higher-seeded team, with Game 1 on October 1, Game 2 on October 2, and Game 3 on October 3 if necessary.
Division Series and Beyond
The Division Series will start on Saturday, October 5, with the winners of the wild card series advancing to face the top-seeded teams. The League Championship Series will begin on Sunday, October 13 for the National League and Monday, October 14 for the American League. The World Series is scheduled to start on Friday, October 25, but could be moved up to Tuesday, October 22 if both League Championship Series end in five games or less.
