2024 MLB Playoffs Image: Schedule, Bracket, Decisive Scenarios

As the final week of the 2024 MLB regular season comes to a close, some teams are already looking ahead to October.

The NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers secured their first playoff spot of the season, while the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres have since been added. In the American League, the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians as well as the Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers have secured playoff spots.

Where are the current playoff matches? What games should you watch out for today? Who will be the next team to clinch a postseason spot? And what does the playoff schedule look like? We've got everything you need to know as the regular season enters the home stretch.

Important links: Complete MLB Rankings | Wildcard Rating | Predictions

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Who is there?

Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers secured their first playoff berth of the season as they captured the NL Central crown for the third time in four seasons.

New York Yankees

The Yankees secured a playoff spot with a win against the Seattle Mariners and then secured the AL East title.

Cleveland Guardians

The Guardians secured a playoff spot with a win over the Minnesota Twins and then secured the AL Central crown.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers clinched a playoff spot with their 20-4 victory over the Marlins and won the NL West title for the 11th time in 12 years.

Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies secured their third straight playoff berth with a win over the Mets on Friday night. With a win over the Cubs on Monday, they secured their first NL East title since 2011.

Houston Astros

The Astros defeated the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday to claim their fourth straight AL West Division title.

Baltimore Orioles

With a win over the Yankees and the Minnesota Twins' loss to the Miami Marlins, the Orioles secured a spot in the playoffs.

San Diego Padres

With a game-winning triple play to win against the Dodgers, the San Diego Padres secured their place in the postseason.

Detroit Tigers

With the White Sox's record-breaking 121st loss, the Tigers ended their 10-year postseason drought.

Kansas City Royals

The Minnesota Twins' loss on Friday gave the Kansas City Royals the final spot in the AL playoffs, their first since 2015.

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Who can win next?

In the Netherlands, the Diamondbacks' magic number is three and the New York Mets' magic number is five.

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What are the current MLB playoff games in October?

American League

Wildcard round: (6) Royals* at (3) Astros*, (5) Tigers* at (4) Orioles*

ALDS: Royals/Astros vs. (2) Guardians*, Tigers/Orioles vs. (1) Yankees*

Bundesliga

Wild Card Round: (6) D-Backs at (3) Brewers*, (5) Mets at (4) Padres*

NLDS: D-Backs/Brewers vs. (2) Phillies*, Mets/Padres vs. (1) Dodgers*

* – Secure playoff spot

Tiebreakers

If LA and Philadelphia have the best record, the Phillies would finish in first place due to a better head-to-head record against the Dodgers this season.

If Cleveland and New York have the AL's best record, the Yankees would finish in first place because they won the straight-season series.

With a tie between Atlanta and New York, the Braves are currently in the tiebreaker due to a 6-5 lead in the straight season series (with two games remaining).

In the event of a tie between two teams involving the D-Backs for the NL's final playoff spot, the Mets and Braves both retain the tiebreaker since they won the season series.

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Breaking down the AL race

The Yankees held off the Orioles (both teams clinched playoff spots) in the battle for the AL East crown, while the Guardians and Astros both captured division titles. The Detroit Tigers surged into contention and secured one of two wild card spots in a tight race with the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals.

And what if these teams reach the postseason? Here are their odds for each round:

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Breaking down the NL race

Four teams have moved away at the top of the NL standings: The Atlanta Braves, the New York Mets and the Arizona Diamondbacks are fighting for the final playoff spots. The Brewers secured the NL Central crown and the Phillies secured an NL East division title. The Dodgers are trying to stop the Padres in the NL West race as both teams have already secured the postseason field.

And what if these teams reach the postseason? Here are their odds for each round:

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Game of the day

Looking for something to watch today? Here's the baseball game with the biggest playoff implications:

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Playoff schedule

Wildcard series
Best of three, all games in the stadium of the better seeding

Game 1: Tuesday, October 1st
Game 2: Wednesday, October 2nd
Game 3: Thursday, October 3rd*

Division Series
The best of five

ALDS
Game 1: Saturday, October 5th
Game 2: Monday, October 7th
Game 3: Wednesday, October 9th
Game 4: Thursday, October 10th*
Game 5: Saturday, October 12th*

NLDS
Game 1: Saturday, October 5th
Game 2: Sunday, October 6th
Game 3: Tuesday, October 8th
Game 4: Wednesday, October 9th*
Game 5: Friday, October 11th*

League Championship Series
The best of seven

ALCS
Game 1: Monday, October 14th
Game 2: Tuesday, October 15th
Game 3: Thursday, October 17th
Game 4: Friday, October 18th
Game 5: Saturday, October 19th*
Game 6: Monday, October 21st*
Game 7: Tuesday, October 22nd*

NLCS
Game 1: Sunday, October 13th
Game 2: Monday, October 14th
Game 3: Wednesday, October 16th
Game 4: Thursday, October 17th
Game 5: Friday, October 18th*
Game 6: Sunday, October 20th*
Game 7: Monday, October 21st*

World Series
The best of seven

Game 1: Friday, October 25th
Game 2: Saturday, October 26th
Game 3: Monday, October 28th
Game 4: Tuesday, October 29th
Game 5: Wednesday, October 30th*
Game 6: Friday, November 1st*
Game 7: Saturday, November 2nd*

Note: If both LCSs end by October 19th – meaning no series lasts longer than five games – the World Series begins on Tuesday, October 22nd

* If necessary