The 2024 MLB playoffs are finally here after the season wrapped up with a doubleheader of playoff-impacting baseball on Monday.
For the third year, the 12-team postseason will kick off with an action-packed wild-card round that starts Tuesday on ESPN, featuring eight teams battling for four spots to advance to the eight-team division series. The first wild-card team to fall? The Astros, who were swept by the 6-seed Tigers on Wednesday. Following that, another lower seed came out on top when the Royals defeated the Orioles to advance. The Padres took care of their series in two games, as well, knocking off the Atlanta Braves. The only Game 3 on Thursday will come between Milwaukee and New York, after a late-game surge by the Brewers secured them a Game 2 win.
The Yankees and Guardians have the top two spots in the American League, and will face the Royals and Tigers, respectively. Meanwhile, in the National League, the Phillies and Dodgers claimed the top seeds.
From the first pitch of the wild-card games to the last out of the World Series, we’ve got you covered with the postseason bracket, schedules, results and how to watch every game this October.
Latest news and analysis
MLB playoffs preview: World Series odds, keys to success and every team’s date of doom
Our predictions for every round
Postseason Impact Rankings: Top 40 players in 2024 MLB playoffs
The 12-team playoff field is set
Jeff Passan’s 2023 MLB playoff preview — and World Series prediction
American League Wild Card Series
Best-of-three series
All times Eastern
Detroit Tigers at Houston Astros
Detroit wins series 2-0
Kansas City Royals at Baltimore Orioles
Kansas City wins series 2-0
National League Wild Card Series
Best-of-three series
New York Mets at Milwaukee Brewers
Series is tied 1-1
Atlanta Braves at San Diego Padres
San Diego wins series 2-0
American League Division Series
Best-of-five series
Cleveland Guardians vs. Detroit Tigers
Game 1: Tigers at Guardians, Saturday, Oct. 5 (TBS)
Game 2: Tigers at Guardians, Monday, Oct. 7 (TBS)
Game 3: Guardians at Tigers, Wednesday, Oct. 9 (TBS)
Game 4*: Guardians at Tigers, Thursday, Oct. 10 (TBS)
Game 5*: Tigers at Guardians, Saturday, Oct. 12 (TBS)
*if necessary
New York Yankees vs. Kansas City Royals
Game 1: Royals at Yankees, Saturday, Oct. 5 (TBS)
Game 2: Royals at Yankees, Monday, Oct. 7 (TBS)
Game 3: Yankees at Royals, Wednesday, Oct. 9 (TBS)
Game 4*: Yankees at Royals, Thursday, Oct. 10 (TBS)
Game 5*: Royals at Yankees, Saturday, Oct. 12 (TBS)
*if necessary
National League Division Series
Best-of-five series
Philadelphia Phillies vs. winner of Mets-Brewers
Game 1: TBD at Phillies, Saturday, Oct. 5 (FOX/FS1)
Game 2: TBD at Phillies, Sunday, Oct. 6 (FOX/FS1)
Game 3: Phillies at TBD, Tuesday, Oct. 8 (FOX/FS1)
Game 4*: Phillies at TBD, Wednesday, Oct. 9 (FOX/FS1)
Game 5*: TBD at Phillies, Friday, Oct. 11 (FOX/FS1)
*if necessary
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres
Game 1: Padres at Dodgers, Saturday, Oct. 5 (FOX/FS1)
Game 2: Padres at Dodgers, Sunday, Oct. 6 (FOX/FS1)
Game 3: Dodgers at Padres, Tuesday, Oct. 8 (FOX/FS1)
Game 4*: Dodgers at Padres, Wednesday, Oct. 9 (FOX/FS1)
Game 5*: Padres at Dodgers, Friday, Oct. 11 (FOX/FS1)
*if necessary
American League Championship Series
Best-of-seven series
Game 1: Monday, Oct. 14 (TBS)
Game 2: Tuesday, Oct. 15 (TBS)
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 17 (TBS)
Game 4: Friday, Oct. 18 (TBS)
Game 5*: Saturday, Oct. 19 (TBS)
Game 6*: Monday, Oct. 21 (TBS)
Game 7*: Tuesday, Oct. 22 (TBS)
*if necessary
National League Championship Series
Best-of-seven series
Game 1: Sunday, Oct. 13 (FOX/FS1)
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 14 (FOX/FS1)
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 16 (FOX/FS1)
Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 17 (FOX/FS1)
Game 5*: Friday, Oct. 18 (FOX/FS1)
Game 6*: Sunday, Oct. 20 (FOX/FS1)
Game 7*: Monday, Oct. 21 (FOX/FS1)
*if necessary
World Series
Best-of-seven series
Game 1: Friday, Oct. 25 (FOX)
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 26 (FOX)
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 28 (FOX)
Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 29 (FOX)
Game 5*: Wednesday, Oct. 30 (FOX)
Game 6*: Friday, Nov. 1 (FOX)
Game 7*: Saturday, Nov. 2 (FOX)
*if necessary
Note: If both league championship series end by Oct. 19 — meaning neither series lasts longer than five games — the World Series will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 22