Major League Baseball has officially announced the schedule for the 2024 postseason, offering a structured and detailed roadmap for fans eagerly anticipating this highly competitive phase of the year. Mark your calendars: the regular season will conclude on Sunday, Sept. 29, seamlessly transitioning into the dynamic theater of playoff baseball.
New Format and Structure
Bringing a significant shift to the postseason, the traditional one-game playoffs are a thing of the past. The Wild Card Series is now a three-game affair, eliminating the previous win-or-go-home game format. This adjustment aims to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of team performance, offering a fairer chance for teams to advance based on series play rather than a single high-stakes game.
Kicking off on Tuesday, Oct. 1, the Wild Card Series promises high-intensity matchups with no travel required between games. This format ensures that the third division winner and the top Wild Card team in each league will host these crucial engagements, optimizing home-field advantage.
Key Dates in the Division Series
The Division Series commences on Saturday, Oct. 5, with the top two division winners in each league hosting Games 1, 2, and, if necessary, Game 5. This setup rewards regular-season excellence by granting these teams a favorable start on their home turf. The National League Division Series (NLDS) Game 2 is slated for Sunday, Oct. 6, while the American League Division Series (ALDS) Game 2 will follow on Monday, Oct. 7.
The schedule progresses with NLDS Game 3 on Tuesday, Oct. 8, and both ALDS Games 3 and potential NLDS Game 4s taking place on Wednesday, Oct. 9. If further games are required, ALDS Game 4 will be on Thursday, Oct. 10, and NLDS Game 5 will be held on Friday, Oct. 11. Potential ALDS Game 5 is set for Saturday, Oct. 12, wrapping up the Division Series phase.
Championship Series Highlights
The National League Championship Series (NLCS) begins on Sunday, Oct. 13, with subsequent games slated strategically to maintain a rhythm of excitement. On Monday, Oct. 14, fans can look forward to NLCS Game 2 and the onset of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) with its Game 1. The ALCS Game 2 will then follow on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
NLCS Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 16, with concurrent action as NLCS Game 4 and ALCS Game 3 take the field on Thursday, Oct. 17. Should further contests be necessary, potential ALCS Game 4 and NLCS Game 5 are booked for Friday, Oct. 18, and potential ALCS Game 5 for Saturday, Oct. 19. Critical matchups may continue with potential NLCS Game 6 on Sunday, Oct. 20, and both potential ALCS Game 6 and NLCS Game 7 on Monday, Oct. 21. If the competition extends further, potential ALCS Game 7 is set for Tuesday, Oct. 22.
A Glimpse at the World Series
Should both League Championship Series conclude by Saturday, Oct. 19, the World Series will commence on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Regular scheduling could otherwise lead to an official start on Friday, Oct. 25, with Game 2 following promptly on Saturday, Oct. 26.
A travel day is built into the schedule ahead of World Series Games 3 and 4, which will be hosted on Monday, Oct. 28, and Tuesday, Oct. 29, respectively. In case the series extends, a potential Game 5 is slotted for Wednesday, Oct. 30. Should the World Series go the full distance to seven games, Game 6 will be hosted on Friday, Nov. 1, and the decisive Game 7 on Saturday, Nov. 2.
Home-Field Advantages
Notably, home-field advantage for the World Series will belong to the team with the superior regular-season record in each league. This edge ensures that teams are rewarded for their consistent performance throughout the year, potentially playing Games 1, 2, and, if required, Games 6 and 7 on their home ground. This strategic placement not only amps up the excitement for home fans but also strategically positions top-performing teams to leverage their familiarity and support in crucial moments.
The 2024 MLB postseason schedule offers a methodical yet thrilling sequence of games that will decidedly pit the best in baseball against each other in the ultimate test of performance and strategy. As fans and teams alike gear up, these dates are sure to be at the forefront of every baseball enthusiast's agenda.