MLB

What we know about the MLB Division Series so far: Matchups, schedule and more

Three of the four Division Series matchups are set.

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The Division Series field in the 2024 MLB playoffs is nearly set.

The No. 5 Kansas City Royals, No. 6 Detroit Tigers and No. 4 San Diego Padres all advanced past the Wild Card Series by completing two-game sweeps on Wednesday. The Tigers stunned the No. 3 Houston Astros, the Royals disposed of the No. 4 Baltimore Orioles, and the Padres beat the No. 5 Atlanta Braves.

Kansas City, Detroit and San Diego now head to the Division Series where the American League's No. 1 New York Yankees and No. 2 Cleveland Guardians, along with the National League's No. 1 Los Angeles Dodgers and No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies, are waiting.

From the matchups to the schedule and more, here's what we know about the ALDS and NLDS so far:

MLB playoff bracket: ALDS, NLDS matchups in 2024

The American League side of the Division Series bracket is set. Over in the National League, one matchup is yet to be decided. Here's a look at the updated bracket:

American League

  • No. 1 New York Yankees vs. No. 5 Kansas City Royals
  • No. 2 Cleveland Guardians vs. No. 6 Detroit Tigers

National League

  • No. 1 Los Angeles Dodgers vs. No. 4 San Diego Padres
  • No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies vs. No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers/No. 6 New York Mets (New York tied with Milwaukee 1-1 in series)

Does MLB reseed in the playoffs?

If you're wondering why the top-seeded Yankees are playing the No. 5 Royals instead of the No. 6 Tigers, it's because the MLB playoffs follow a bracket format and don't reseed teams following the opening round.

The 2024 MLB playoffs begin on Tuesday, Oct. 1, with four games in the Wild Card series. Here is how the MLB playoff format works and other key postseason dates.

How many games are in the ALDS, NLDS?

The Division Series features a best-of-five format where the higher seed has home-field advantage for Games 1, 2 and, if necessary, 5.

When do the ALDS, NLDS start?

All four Division Series showdowns are slated to get underway Saturday, Oct. 5.

ALDS, NLDS schedules

Here's a full look at the Division Series schedule (* = if necessary):

No. 1 Yankees vs. No. 5 Royals

  • Game 1: Royals at Yankees, Oct. 5, 6:38 p.m. ET
  • Game 2: Royals at Yankees, Oct. 7, 7:38 p.m. ET
  • Game 3: Yankees at Royals, Oct. 9, TBD
  • Game 4*: Yankees at Royals, Oct. 10, TBD
  • Game 5*: Royals at Yankees, Oct. 12, TBD

No. 2 Guardians vs. No. 6 Tigers

  • Game 1: Tigers at Guardians, Oct. 5, 1:08 p.m. ET
  • Game 2: Tigers at Guardians, Oct. 7, 4:08 p.m. ET
  • Game 3: Guardians at Tigers, Oct. 9, TBD
  • Game 4*: Guardians at Tigers, Oct. 10, TBD
  • Game 5*: Tigers at Guardians, Oct. 12, TBD

No. 1 Dodgers vs. No. 4 Padres

  • Game 1: Padres at Dodgers, Oct. 5, 8:38 p.m. ET
  • Game 2: Padres at Dodgers, Oct. 6, 8:03 p.m. ET
  • Game 3: Dodgers at Padres, Oct. 8, TBD
  • Game 4*: Dodgers at Padres, Oct. 9, TBD
  • Game 5*: Padres at Dodgers, Oct. 11, TBD

No. 2 Phillies vs. No. 3 Brewers/No. 6 Mets

  • Game 1: Brewers/Mets at Phillies, Oct. 5, 4:08 p.m. ET
  • Game 2: Brewers/Mets at Phillies, Oct. 6, 4:08 p.m. ET
  • Game 3: Phillies at Brewers/Mets, Oct. 8, TBD
  • Game 4*: Phillies at Brewers/Mets, Oct. 9, TBD
  • Game 5*: Brewers/Mets at Phillies, Oct. 11, TBD

How to watch the ALDS, NLDS

ALDS games will air on TBS and be available to stream on Max, TBS.com and the TBS app. NLDS games, meanwhile, will air across Fox and FS1 and be available to stream on FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports app.

MLB Network’s Ariel Epstein discusses the importance of the Phillies clinching home field advantage throughout the 2024 MLB playoffs.
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