There’s only one October.
As the calendar flips past September, Major League Baseball’s playoffs kick into high gear, with 12 teams vying for a World Series title. The road to postseason glory begins with four series in the Wild Card round.
The Toronto Blue Jays are the top seed in the American League, after fending off a charge from the New York Yankees to win the American League East in a tiebreaker due to the better head-to-head record. The Seattle Mariners, with slugging catcher Cal Raleigh, aka “Big Dumper,” are the second seed. Both teams earned a bye into the Divisional Series.
Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners will sit out the Wild Card round. Olivia Vanni / MLB Photos via Getty Images
In the National League, the Milwaukee Brewers earned the top seed, while the Philadelphia Phillies claimed the second seed. Both teams will keep an eye out on the Wild Card round to see who they will play.
The Wild Card round is comprised of best-of-three series played in the higher seed’s stadium.
Here’s a look at each Wild Card series and how to watch. All times Eastern. There’s a chance certain Game 3s could be moved to different times, depending on the outcome and status of each series. You can see the various scenarios here.
American League(6) Detroit Tigers at (3) Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians’ red-hot end to the regular season coupled with the Tigers’ meltdown helped the Guardians overcome a 15 1/2-game deficit to win the American League Central. These two teams are very familiar with each other. The winner plays the Mariners.
Game 1: Sept. 30 — 1:08 p.m., ESPNGame 2: Oct. 1 — 1:08 p.m., ESPNGame 3 (if necessary): Oct. 2 — 1:08 p.m., ESPN
Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal will try to carry his team deep into the postseason.Nick Cammett / Getty Images(5) Boston Red Sox at (4) New York Yankees
Talk about two teams familiar with each other. These bitter and longstanding rivals will add another chapter to their history. The Red Sox dominated the Yankees this year, but New York got hot at the end of the regular season and hope to continue its momentum. The winner plays the Blue Jays.
Game 1: Sept. 30 — 6:08 p.m., ESPNGame 2: Oct. 1 — 6:08 p.m., ESPNGame 3 (if necessary): Oct. 2 — 6:08 p.m., ESPN
Aaron Judge has struggled historically in the playoffs, but he’ll look to change that beginning with a Wild Card test against the Boston Red Sox.Ishika Samant / Getty ImagesNational League(6) Cincinnati Reds at (3) Los Angeles Dodgers
The defending World Series champion Dodgers have some bullpen issues, but they also have Shohei Ohtani. The Reds, led by World Series-winning manager Terry Francona in his first season with the team, are young, inexperienced and don’t necessarily dominate in any one facet of the game. The winner plays the Phillies.
Game 1: Sept. 30 — 9:08 p.m., ESPNGame 2: Oct. 1 — 9:08 p.m., ESPNGame 3 (if necessary): Oct. 2 — 9:08 p.m., ESPN
Superstar Shohei Ohtani will lead the Los Angeles Dodgers as they try to win a second straight World Series.Steph Chambers / Getty Images(5) San Diego Padres at (4) Chicago Cubs
The Padres may have the deepest bullpen in baseball, which could be key in the playoffs. The Cubs, meanwhile, will be without outstanding starting pitcher Cade Horton, who is out with a rib fracture. The winner plays the Brewers.
Game 1: Sept. 30 — 3:08 p.m., ABCGame 2: Oct. 1 — 3:08 p.m., ABCGame 3 (if necessary): Oct. 2 — 3:08 p.m., ABC