{"id":12304,"date":"2025-05-09T03:21:28","date_gmt":"2025-05-09T03:21:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/12304\/"},"modified":"2025-05-09T03:21:28","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T03:21:28","slug":"mlb-playoff-format-postseason-bracket-and-schedule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/12304\/","title":{"rendered":"MLB playoff format: Postseason bracket and schedule"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;right:0;bottom:0;width:100%;height:100%;z-index:2\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/75477398007-usatsi-24377183.jpg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"vidplayicon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/icon-play-alt-white.svg.svg+xml\" alt=\"play\" style=\"height:40px;margin:auto 18px auto 27px;width:40px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Parity abounds in MLB postseason as big spenders and budget squads collide<\/p>\n<p>USA TODAY Sports&#8217; Bob Nightengale breaks down parity in the MLB postseason and why teams like the Padres are excelling despite cutting their budget.<\/p>\n<p>Sports Seriously<\/p>\n<p>The MLB postseason has arrived, and the remaining eight teams are pursuing their World Series dreams as they compete in the 2024 MLB Division Series.<\/p>\n<p>The top teams in the National League are the <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/baseball\/mlb\/teams\/los-angeles-dodgers\/243\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a>, who feature <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/baseball\/mlb\/players\/shohei-ohtani\/727378\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Shohei Ohtani<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/baseball\/mlb\/players\/mookie-betts\/597889\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Mookie Betts<\/a>, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/baseball\/mlb\/teams\/philadelphia-phillies\/246\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Philadelphia Phillies<\/a>, making their third straight postseason appearance. The Dodgers will face the <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/baseball\/mlb\/teams\/san-diego-padres\/249\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/baseball\/mlb\/teams\/san-diego-padres\/249\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">San Diego Padres<\/a> after defeating the <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/baseball\/mlb\/teams\/atlanta-braves\/239\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/baseball\/mlb\/teams\/atlanta-braves\/239\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Atlanta Braves<\/a> in the wild card series. Meanwhile, the Phillies will take on the <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/baseball\/mlb\/teams\/new-york-mets\/245\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">New York Mets<\/a>, who advanced after a hard-fought three-game series win over the Milwaukee Brewers.<\/p>\n<p>In the American League, the <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/baseball\/mlb\/teams\/cleveland-guardians\/229\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/baseball\/mlb\/teams\/cleveland-guardians\/229\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Cleveland Guardians<\/a> will face their division rivals, the <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/baseball\/mlb\/teams\/detroit-tigers\/230\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/baseball\/mlb\/teams\/detroit-tigers\/230\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Detroit Tigers<\/a>, in a matchup that promises to be a nail-biter. The <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/baseball\/mlb\/teams\/new-york-yankees\/234\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">New York Yankees<\/a>, the heavy favorites with the best record in the AL, will face off against the <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/baseball\/mlb\/teams\/kansas-city-royals\/231\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/baseball\/mlb\/teams\/kansas-city-royals\/231\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Kansas City Royals<\/a>, setting the stage for two must-watch events that will keep you on the edge of your seat.<\/p>\n<p>MLB playoffs: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/mlb\/playoffs\/2024\/10\/05\/mlb-playoffs-alds-zack-wheeler-nlds-players-to-watch\/75518513007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Four pivotal players for ALDS and NLDS matchups<\/a><\/p>\n<p>MLB playoff bracket:American League Division matchupsCleveland Guardians vs. Detroit TigersNew York Yankees vs. Kansas City RoyalsNational League Wild Division matchupsPhiladelphia Phillies vs. New York MetsLos Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres2024 MLB postseason schedule:American League Division: Best-of-five series<\/p>\n<p>*if necessary<\/p>\n<p>Game 1: Tigers at Guardians, Saturday, Oct. 5 at 1:08 p.m. ET on TBSGame 1: Royals at Yankees, Saturday, Oct. 5 at 6:38 p.m. ET on TBSGame 2: Tigers at Guardians, Monday, Oct. 7 (TBS)Game 2: Royals at Yankees, Monday, Oct. 7 (TBS)Game 3: Guardians at Tigers, Wednesday, Oct. 9 (TBS)Game 3: Yankees at Royals, Wednesday, Oct. 9 (TBS)Game 4*: Guardians at Tigers, Thursday, Oct. 10 (TBS)Game 4*: Yankees at Royals, Thursday, Oct. 10 (TBS)Game 5*: Tigers at Guardians, Saturday, Oct. 12 (TBS)Game 5*: Royals at Yankees, Saturday, Oct. 12 (TBS)National League Division: Best-of-five series<\/p>\n<p>*if necessary<\/p>\n<p>Game 1: Mets at Phillies, Saturday, Oct. 5 at 4:08 p.m. ET on FoxGame 1: Padres at Dodgers, Saturday, Oct. 5 at 8:38 p.m. ET on FS1Game 2: Mets at Phillies, Sunday, Oct. 6 (Fox or FS1)Game 2: Padres at Dodgers, Sunday, Oct. 6 (Fox or FS1)Game 3: Phillies at Mets, Tuesday, Oct. 8 (Fox or FS1)Game 3: Dodgers at Padres, Tuesday, Oct. 8 (Fox or FS1)Game 4*: Phillies at Mets, Wednesday, Oct. 9 (Fox or FS1)Game 4*: Dodgers at Padres, Wednesday, Oct. 9 (Fox or FS1)Game 5*: Mets at Phillies, Friday, Oct. 11 (Fox or FS1)Game 5*: Padres at Dodgers, Friday, Oct. 11 (Fox or FS1)League Championship Series (Best-of-7):October 13: NLCS Game 1October 14: ALCS Game 1, NLCS Game 2October 15: ALCS Game 2October 16: NLCS Game 3October 17: ALCS Game 3, NLCS Game 4October 18: ALCS Game 4, NLCS Game 5 (if necessary)October 19: ALCS Game 5 (if necessary)October 20: NLCS Game 6 (if necessary)October 21: ALCS Game 6 (if necessary), NLCS Game 7 (if necessary)October 22: ALCS Game 7 (if necessary)World Series (Best-of-7):October 25: World Series Game 1October 26: World Series Game 2October 28: World Series Game 3October 29: World Series Game 4October 30: World Series Game 5 (if necessary)November 1: World Series Game 6 (if necessary)November 2: World Series Game 7 (if necessary)<\/p>\n<p>More: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/mlb\/playoffs\/2024\/10\/03\/mets-vs-brewers-live-score-updates-game-3-time-pitchers-tv-channel\/75499815007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Mets stun Brewers with Pete Alonso&#8217;s home run to set up NLDS vs. Phillies: Highlights<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Parity abounds in MLB postseason as big spenders and budget squads collide USA TODAY Sports&#8217; Bob Nightengale breaks&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12305,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2288],"tags":[938,152,5,5411,2500,438,695,689,343,2328,2304,4,2305,2303,5410,1526,306,2424,169,3213,1258,300,316,301,1646,1257,468,688,185,317,1645,1039],"class_list":{"0":"post-12304","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mlb-postseason","8":"tag-american","9":"tag-american-league","10":"tag-baseball","11":"tag-betts","12":"tag-championship","13":"tag-exclude","14":"tag-exclude-smart-fronts","15":"tag-fronts","16":"tag-league","17":"tag-major-league-baseball-playoffs","18":"tag-major-league-baseball-postseason","19":"tag-mlb","20":"tag-mlb-playoffs","21":"tag-mlb-postseason","22":"tag-mookie","23":"tag-mookie-betts","24":"tag-national","25":"tag-national-league-championship-series","26":"tag-news","27":"tag-now","28":"tag-ohtani","29":"tag-overall","30":"tag-overall-positive","31":"tag-positive","32":"tag-series","33":"tag-shohei","34":"tag-shohei-ohtani","35":"tag-smart","36":"tag-sports","37":"tag-sports-news","38":"tag-world","39":"tag-world-series"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@mlb\/114475727830477161","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12304","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12304"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12304\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12305"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12304"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12304"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12304"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}