MLB 2024 Wild-card series: Who plays who and when does it start?
So far, the Yankees, Orioles, Guardians, Tigers, Royals, Astros, Phillies, Brewers, Dodgers and Padres have all been assured of making the postseason.
The teams competing in the American League of Major League Baseball postseason have been defined. At the same time, a couple of tickets remain to be defined in the National League to know how both keys will be played (Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, and Arizona Diamondbacks keep the last two tickets in the air).
The playoffs begin on Tuesday, October 1, with the Wild Card Series.
For now, only ten teams have a spot in the postseason: the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, and Houston Astros in the American League; the Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Diego Padres in the National League.
The Championship Series runs from October 13 to 22, while the World Series, if it is extended to seven games, runs from October 25 to November 2.
How will the postseason be played in the MLB?
American League
- New York Yankees
- Cleveland Guardians
*They rest until the Division Series
Wild Card Round
- (6) Kansas City Royals vs. Houston Astros (3)
- (5) Detroit Tigers vs. Baltimore Orioles (4)
National League
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Philadelphia Phillies
*They rest until the Division Series
Wild Card Round (To be determined by Monday, September 30)
- (3) Milwaukee Brewers vs. New York Mets (6)
- (4) San Diego Padres vs. Atlanta Braves (5)
What's at stake on Monday, September 30
Mets and Braves risk their lives in a doubleheader:
- If each wins a game, both the Mets and Braves advance to the postseason
- If Braves win both games: Braves and D-backs go to playoffs
- If the Mets win both games, the Mets and D-backs, go to playoffs
The Mets beat the Brewers 5-0 but couldn’t celebrate because the Diamondbacks also won. This means the Mets have to travel to Atlanta for a doubleheader on Monday to secure a win.
Getting that win won’t be easy, as the Braves lost on Sunday, ending a five-game win streak. They will also need to win a game. If the Braves had won on Sunday, they would have had nothing to play for on Monday except playoff seeding.
However, now the Braves risk being eliminated if the Mets sweep the doubleheader.