ESPN
Sep 30, 2024, 07:15 PM ET
The 2024 MLB playoff field is -- finally -- set!
The New York Mets won the exhilarating first game of Monday's doubleheader and the Atlanta Braves won the second to both clinch postseason berths and officially eliminate the Arizona Diamondbacks. New York and Atlanta take the final two spots in the National League, where the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies have the top seeds, followed by the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres. In the American League, the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians have the top seeds, with the Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals joining them.
Where do the current playoff matchups stand? What does the playoff schedule look like? We have everything you need to know as the regular season comes to a finish.
Key links: Full MLB standings | Wild-card standings | Passan's World Series prediction
Who is in?
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers clinched the season's first playoff spot, when they secured the NL Central crown for the third time in four seasons.
New York Yankees
The Yankees clinched a playoff spot on with a win against the Seattle Mariners and followed by clinching the AL East title.
Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians clinched a playoff spot with a win over the Minnesota Twins and followed by clinching the AL Central crown.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers clinched a playoff spot with their 20-4 blowout win over the Marlins and have won the NL West title for the 11th time in 12 years.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies clinched their third straight playoff spot with a win over the Mets on Friday night. With a win over the Cubs on Monday, they clinched their first NL East title since 2011.
Houston Astros
The Astros beat the Mariners on Tuesday to clinch their fourth consecutive AL West division title.
Baltimore Orioles
With a win over the Yankees and the Twins' loss to the Marlins, the Orioles clinched a playoff spot.
San Diego Padres
With a game-ending triple play to seal their win against the Dodgers, the Padres clinched their spot in the postseason.
Detroit Tigers
By handing the White Sox a record 121st loss, the Tigers ended their 10-year postseason drought.
Kansas City Royals
The Twins' loss on Friday clinched the final AL playoff spot for the Royals, their first since 2015.
New York Mets
The Mets clinched a playoff spot by winning the opener of Monday's doubleheader in Atlanta.
Atlanta Braves
The Braves clinched the final spot in the postseason by winning the second game of Monday's doubleheader in Atlanta.
What are this October's MLB playoff matchups as it stands now?
American League
Wild-card round: (6) Tigers at (3) Astros, (5) Royals at (4) Orioles
ALDS: Tigers/Astros vs. (2) Guardians, Royals/Orioles vs. (1) Yankees
National League
Wild-card round: (6) Mets at (3) Brewers, (5) Braves at (4) Padres
NLDS: Mets/Brewers vs. (2) Phillies, Braves/Padres vs. (1) Dodgers
Breaking down the AL race
The Yankees fended off the Orioles in a battle for the AL East crown -- though, Baltimore also clinched a playoff berth -- while the Guardians and Astros both also clinched division titles. Two more AL Central teams -- the Tigers and Royals -- round out the field. Here are the odds for the AL playoff squads for every round:
Breaking down the NL race
While the Braves and Mets battled until the last hour for the final playoff spots, the other four teams locked up their berths prior to the final weekend. Milwaukee clinched the NL Central crown and Philadelphia cruised to a division title in the NL East. The Dodgers beat the Padres in the final matchup of the (regular) season to clinch its 11th NL West title in the past 12 seasons, with San Diego going on to secure the 4-seed. Here are the odds for the NL playoff squads -- as- for every round:
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
