Major League Baseball (MLB) has announced the eagerly awaited schedule for the 2024 postseason, presenting a structured roadmap from the exciting Wild Card Series to the potentially climactic World Series.
Regular Season Conclusion
The regular season will reach its apex on Sunday, September 29, setting the stage for an exhilarating October. Fans everywhere will be keeping a keen eye on their favorite teams as they battle for playoff berths in the final stretch of the regular season.
Wild Card Series
A new chapter begins with the Wild Card Series scheduled to begin on Tuesday, October 1. This year, the Wild Card Series will adopt a three-game format, eliminating the high-stakes, one-game playoff that has been a staple in recent years. Interestingly, the series will be held without any travel, providing a contiguous contest environment.
The third division winner and the top Wild Card team in each league win the privilege of hosting these critical matchups. With games slated for Tuesday, October 1, and continuing on Wednesday, October 2, any necessary Game 3s will be concluded by Thursday, October 3.
Division Series
Building on the excitement, the Division Series will get underway on Saturday, October 5. The top two division winners in each league are set to host Games 1, 2, and, if necessary, Game 5, providing a significant home advantage. Highlight matches include NLDS Game 2 on Sunday, October 6, followed by ALDS Game 2 on Monday, October 7. Further entrenching the competitive spirit, NLDS Game 3 will occur on Tuesday, October 8, with ALDS Games 3 and potential NLDS Game 4s on Wednesday, October 9. The baseball action will surge ahead with ALDS Game 4 on Thursday, October 10, and, if needed, NLDS Game 5 on Friday, October 11, closing with a potential ALDS Game 5 on Saturday, October 12.
Championship Series
Fans can then look forward to the National League Championship Series (NLCS), which commences on Sunday, October 13. The American League Championship Series (ALCS) follows close behind with Game 1 set for Monday, October 14, paralleling NLCS Game 2 on the same day.
The intensity amplifies with ALCS Game 2 on Tuesday, October 15, and NLCS Game 3 on Wednesday, October 16. Both leagues will observe pivotal matches, including NLCS Game 4 and ALCS Game 3 on Thursday, October 17. If required, Friday, October 18, will feature potential ALCS Game 4 and NLCS Game 5 matchups, with potential ALCS Game 5 occupying Saturday, October 19. The possibility of reaching Game 6 and 7 introduces nail-biting anticipation, with potential NLCS Game 6 on Sunday, October 20, and potential ALCS Game 6 alongside NLCS Game 7 on Monday, October 21. If necessary, ALCS Game 7 is slated for Tuesday, October 22.
The World Series
If both League Championship Series conclude by October 19, the World Series is set to kick off on Tuesday, October 22. However, should the series extend, the opening of the World Series will align with its scheduled date on Friday, October 25.
The opening ceremony of the World Series promises to be a spectacle, with Game 1 on October 25 followed by Game 2 on Saturday, October 26. To accommodate teams and ensure peak performance, a travel day is designated before Games 3 and 4, occurring on Monday, October 28, and Tuesday, October 29, respectively. A potential Game 5 could provide fans with another adrenaline rush on Wednesday, October 30.
Should the series continue to Game 6 and 7, they are scheduled for Friday, November 1, and Saturday, November 2, respectively. The final games will see intense competition to outlast the opponent, with the team boasting the superior regular-season record in each league hosting Games 1, 2, and if required, Games 6 and 7 of the World Series.
As baseball fans across the globe gear up for what promises to be an unforgettable postseason, MLB's structured schedule ensures clarity and heightened anticipation, with each team vying to etch their name in the annals of baseball history.