As the final month of the 2024 MLB regular season plays out, a few teams are already looking to October.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies have opened comfortable leads in the National League while the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians all seem like locks for postseason spots despite being in races at the top of their own divisions.
Beyond division races, there are many storylines to watch as the regular season comes to an end.
Where do the current playoff matchups stand? What games should you be paying attention to today? Who will be the first team to clinch a postseason berth? And what does the playoff schedule look like? We have everything you need to know as the regular season hits the homestretch.
Key links: Full MLB standings | Wild-card standings | Predictions
Who can clinch a playoff spot next?
The Dodgers, Phillies, Brewers, Orioles, Yankees and Guardians all have at least a 99% chance of making the postseason.
What are this October’s MLB playoff matchups as it stands now?
American League
Wild-card round: (6) Twins at (3) Astros, (5) Royals at (4) Orioles
ALDS: Twins/Astros vs. (2) Guardians, Royals/Orioles vs. (1) Yankees
National League
Wild-card round: (6) Mets or Braves at (3) Brewers, (5) D-backs at (4) Padres
NLDS: Mets/Brewers vs. (2) Dodgers, D-backs/Padres vs. (1) Phillies
Note: If the Postseason began today, the Mets would get the final NL playoff spot by virtue of a better intradivision record (22-17, .564) than the Braves (23-21, .523) since the teams are tied at 5-5 in the head-to-head season series (with three games remaining).
Breaking down the AL race
The Yankees and Orioles enter the homestretch battling for both the AL’s No. 1 seed and the AL East crown with the Red Sox still holding onto some hope in the AL wild-card race. After spending much of the season comfortably ahead in the AL Central, the Guardians are trying to outlast the Royals and Twins for the division crown while the Astros attempt to separate themselves from the Mariners in a two-team AL West race.
And what about when these teams get to the postseason? Here’s what their chances are for every round:
Breaking down the NL race
Five teams have separated themselves atop the NL standings with the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets battling for the final playoff spot. The Phillies and Brewers are seemingly cruising to division titles. The Dodgers have opened up a lead in the NL West race, with the D-backs and Padres both also very likely to join L.A. in the postseason field.
And what about when these teams get to the postseason? Here’s what their chances are for every round:
Game of the day
Looking for something to watch today? Here’s the baseball game with the biggest playoff implications:
Playoff schedule
Wild-card series
Best of three, all games at better seed’s stadium
Game 1: Tuesday, Oct. 1
Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 2
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 3*
Division series
Best of five
ALDS
Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 5
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 7
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 9
Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 10*
Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 12*
NLDS
Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 5
Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 6
Game 3: Tuesday, Oct. 8
Game 4: Wednesday, Oct. 9*
Game 5: Friday, Oct. 11*
League championship series
Best of seven
ALCS
Game 1: Monday, Oct. 14
Game 2: Tuesday, Oct. 15
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 17
Game 4: Friday, Oct. 18
Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 19*
Game 6: Monday, Oct. 21*
Game 7: Tuesday, Oct. 22*
NLCS
Game 1: Sunday, Oct. 13
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 14
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 16
Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 17
Game 5: Friday, Oct. 18*
Game 6: Sunday, Oct. 20*
Game 7: Monday, Oct. 21*
World Series
Best of seven
Game 1: Friday, Oct. 25
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 26
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 28
Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 29
Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 30*
Game 6: Friday, Nov. 1*
Game 7: Saturday, Nov. 2*
Note: If both LCS end by Oct. 19 — meaning neither series lasts longer than five games — the World Series will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 22
* If necessary
