As the final month of the 2024 MLB regular season plays out, a few teams are already looking to October.
The NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers clinched the season’s first playoff spot on Wednesday while the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Philadelphia Phillies have also opened up comfortable leads in the National League races. In the American League, the New York Yankees also clinched a playoff spot Wednesday, while the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Guardians and Houston Astros all seem like locks for October.
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 is in?
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers clinched the season’s first playoff spot on Wednesday when the Oakland Athletics‘ win over the Chicago Cubs secured the NL Central crown for Milwaukee.
New York Yankees
The Yankees clinched their playoff spot on Wednesday night with a win against the Seattle Mariners. They’re currently five games up over the Baltimore Orioles for the AL East crown.
Who can clinch next?
The Guardians’ magic number is one to clinch a playoff spot and four to clinch the AL Central.
The Phillies’ magic number for a playoff spot is one and four to clinch the NL East. The Dodgers’ magic number is two to clinch a playoff spot and seven to win the NL West.
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) D-backs at (3) Brewers*, (5) Mets at (4) Padres
NLDS: D-backs/Brewers vs. (2) Dodgers, Mets/Padres vs. (1) Phillies
* — Clinched playoff spot
Tiebreakers
If L.A. and Philadelphia tie for best record, the Phillies would get the top seed because of a better head-to-head record against the Dodgers this season.
Head-to-head season series would determine No. 1 AL seed if Cleveland finishes season tied with the AL East champ for league’s best record: Guardians over Orioles; Yankees over Guardians.
If Yankees, Orioles and Guardians all finish with the same record, Baltimore would get the AL’s top seed by virtue of intradivision record among the three teams.
If Baltimore and New York finish in a two-team tie, the Orioles currently hold the AL East tiebreaker because they lead the Yankees, 6-4, in the head-to-head season series (with three games remaining).
If Atlanta and New York tie, the Mets currently hold the final NL playoff spot by virtue of a better intradivision record 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 have taken the lead on the Orioles in a battle for both the AL’s No. 1 seed and the AL East crown. 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 have separated themselves from the Mariners in the AL West race. The Detroit Tigers have also surged into contention for the league’s final playoff spot.
And what about when these teams get to the postseason? Here’s what their chances are for every round:
Breaking down the NL race
Four teams have separated themselves atop the NL standings with the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks battling for the final playoff spots. The Brewers have clinched the NL Central crown and the Phillies are also seemingly cruising to a division title in the NL East. The Dodgers have opened up a lead in the NL West race, with the Padres 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
