MLB playoffs: When do the wild card games start? Who’s playing? Brackets, favorites
With the 2022 MLB playoff field set, we’ve got you covered with who’s playing and what’s the schedule of the wild card games
The 2022 MLB postseason field is set and it all begins Friday!
The 12 teams secured playoff berths before the final day of the regular season, with the Los Angeles Dodgers officially securing the season’s first playoff berth, and the Houston Astros, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, Cleveland Guardians and St. Louis Cardinals following next.
The Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres then clinched the spots left. One of the final races decided was the NL East, with the Braves defeating the Marlins on Tuesday, clinching the division title and securing the second spot.
Related: Which MLB teams have gone the longest since making the playoffs?
The Wild Card Series will have all three games in the same ballpark, no travel necessary. There is no re-seeding either, which means that the winner of the Rays-Guardians series will face the Yankees in the American League Division Series, while the Mariners-Blue Jays winner will head to Houston. We’ve got you covered with the new format explained here.
Meanwhile, here’s a look at the wild games schedule, and what else is in store:
Playoff schedule
Wild Card Series
Best of three, all games at better seed’s stadium
Game 1: Friday, Oct. 7
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 8
Game 3: Sunday, Oct. 9*
Division Series
Best of five
ALDS
Game 1: Tuesday, Oct. 11
Game 2: Thursday, Oct. 13
Game 3: Saturday Oct. 15
Game 4: Sunday, Oct. 16*
Game 5: Monday, Oct. 17*
NLDS
Game 1: Tuesday, Oct. 11
Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 12
Game 3: Friday, Oct. 14
Game 4: Saturday, Oct. 15*
Game 5: Sunday, Oct. 16*
League Championship Series
Best of seven
ALCS
Game 1: Wednesday, Oct. 19
Game 2: Thursday, Oct. 20
Game 3: Saturday Oct. 22
Game 4: Sunday, Oct. 23
Game 5: Monday, Oct. 24*
Game 6: Tuesday, Oct. 25*
Game 7: Wednesday Oct. 26*
NLCS
Game 1: Tuesday, Oct. 18
Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 19
Game 3: Friday, Oct. 21
Game 4: Saturday, Oct. 22
Game 5: Sunday, Oct. 23*
Game 6: Monday, Oct. 24*
Game 7: Tuesday, Oct. 25*
World Series
Best of seven
Game 1: Friday, Oct. 28
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 29
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 31
Game 4: Tuesday, Nov. 1
Game 5: Wednesday, Nov. 2*
Game 6: Friday, Nov. 4*
Game 7: Saturday, Nov. 5*
* If necessary