Major League Baseball has officially announced the detailed schedule for the 2024 postseason, presenting a series of changes and structured matchups that fans and teams alike will find notable. The regular season will draw to a close on Sunday, Sept. 29, leading directly into a packed and strategically revamped playoff schedule.
Revamped Wild Card Series
The Wild Card Series begins on Tuesday, Oct. 1. This year, the series features a three-game showdown with no travel days between games, ensuring a swift progression and maintaining the competitive momentum. Hosts for these pivotal matches will be the third division winner and the top Wild Card team in each league. The Wild Card Series continues into Wednesday, Oct. 2, with any required third games set for Thursday, Oct. 3. This format replaces the former one-game playoff, offering a more robust and engaging battle for advancement.
Division Series Lineup
The Division Series action kicks off on Saturday, Oct. 5. Excitement is guaranteed to build as the top two division winners in each league will have the home-field advantage for Games 1, 2, and if necessary, the decisive Game 5. Specifically, NLDS Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 6, followed by ALDS Game 2 on Monday, Oct. 7. NLDS Game 3 is pinned for Tuesday, Oct. 8, while ALDS Games 3 and potential NLDS Game 4s are set for Wednesday, Oct. 9. Should the series extend further, ALDS Game 4 will be on Thursday, Oct. 10, with NLDS Game 5 on Friday, Oct. 11, and ALDS Game 5 the next day, Saturday, Oct. 12.
League Championship Series
Progressing into the latter half of October, the National League Championship Series (NLCS) will begin on Sunday, Oct. 13. Fans can expect NLCS Game 2 and ALCS Game 1 to take place on Monday, Oct. 14, followed by ALCS Game 2 on Tuesday, Oct. 15. NLCS Game 3 is slated for Wednesday, Oct. 16, with Game 4 and ALCS Game 3 occurring on Thursday, Oct. 17. If necessary, potential ALCS Game 4 and NLCS Game 5 are lined up for Friday, Oct. 18, continuing through the weekend with potential ALCS Game 5 on Saturday, Oct. 19, NLCS Game 6 on Sunday, Oct. 20, and both potential ALCS Game 6 and NLCS Game 7 on Monday, Oct. 21. Finally, potential ALCS Game 7 will be played on Tuesday, Oct. 22, if needed.
World Series Schedule
The pinnacle of postseason play, the World Series, is set to capitalize on the excitement built throughout October. Should the League Championship Series conclude by Saturday, Oct. 19, the World Series will commence on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Under the scheduled timeline, however, the World Series will officially start on Friday, Oct. 25, with Game 2 on Saturday, Oct. 26. Following a travel day, Games 3 and 4 will be held on Monday, Oct. 28, and Tuesday, Oct. 29, respectively. Should the series extend further, potential Game 5 is planned for Wednesday, Oct. 30. If the full seven games are needed to determine the champion, Game 6 will occur on Friday, Nov. 1, and Game 7 on Saturday, Nov. 2.
Significantly, the team with the superior regular-season record in each league will enjoy the advantage of hosting Games 1, 2, and, if necessary, Games 6 and 7, providing a substantial benefit during this critical final series.
This detailed schedule not only outlines the path teams must traverse to reach glory but also sets the stage for an October filled with fierce competition and high-stakes baseball. Fans can expect every pitch, hit, and defensive play to be magnified as the teams vie for the ultimate prize in Major League Baseball.