Postseason schedule announced; flexible start date for World Series

The 2024 MLB postseason will feature a month of games broadcast across six channels and, for the first time, includes a wrinkle for the start of the World Series.

Overall, the postseason is scheduled to run from the start of the Wild Card Series on Tuesday, Oct. 1, to a potential Game 7 of the World Series as late as Saturday, Nov. 2.

Here’s everything you need to know.

When does the World Series start?

The 2024 World Series is scheduled to begin on Oct. 25 at the home of the league champion with the better record and continue through a potential Game 7 on Saturday, Nov. 2. The scheduled off-days are Sunday, Oct. 27, and Thursday, Oct. 31.

But for the first time, there’s a major caveat: Should the National League Championship Series and American League Championship Series both end by Oct. 19 — meaning neither series lasts longer than five games under the current schedule — the World Series will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 22, with a potential Game 7 coming on Wednesday, Oct. 30.

In that scenario, the World Series off-days would be Thursday, Oct. 24, and Monday, Oct. 28.

How many postseason rounds are there?

There are four postseason rounds: the best-of-three Wild Card Series, the best-of-five Division Series, the best-of-seven League Championship Series and the best-of-seven World Series.

When are the Wild Card Series?

The Wild Card Series in both leagues are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Oct. 1, and continue through Thursday, Oct. 3, if necessary.

When do the NLDS and ALDS start?

The openers of all four Division Series are scheduled to begin on Saturday, Oct. 5. Potential Game 5s would be on Friday, Oct. 11, in the NL and Saturday, Oct. 12, in the AL.

When do the NLCS and ALCS start?

The NL Championship Series is scheduled to open on Sunday, Oct. 13, with the AL Championship Series scheduled to start on Monday, Oct. 14. Potential Game 7s would be on Monday, Oct. 21, in the NL and Tuesday, Oct. 22 in the AL.

How can I watch the postseason?

The 2024 MLB postseason will be broadcast across a variety of networks.

All Wild Card Series games will be shown on either ABC, ESPN or ESPN2.

The NLDS will be broadcast on FOX or FS1, while TNT Sports will simulcast the ALDS on TBS, truTV and Max.

FOX or FS1 will broadcast the NLCS, while TBS, truTV and Max will be the home of the ALCS.

The World Series will be broadcast on FOX.

All games on TBS, FOX and FS1 will be available to MLB.TV subscribers who are authenticated subscribers to those networks via a participating pay TV provider. The Wild Card Series will also be available on the ESPN app.

Tuesday, Oct. 1
American League Wild Card A, Game 1 (ESPN Platforms)
American League Wild Card B, Game 1 (ESPN Platforms)
National League Wild Card A, Game 1 (ESPN Platforms)
National League Wild Card B, Game 1 (ESPN Platforms)

Wednesday, Oct. 2
American League Wild Card A, Game 2 (ESPN Platforms)
American League Wild Card B, Game 2 (ESPN Platforms)
National League Wild Card A, Game 2 (ESPN Platforms)
National League Wild Card B, Game 2 (ESPN Platforms)

Thursday, Oct. 3
American League Wild Card A, Game 3* (ESPN Platforms)
American League Wild Card B, Game 3* (ESPN Platforms)
National League Wild Card A, Game 3* (ESPN Platforms)
National League Wild Card B, Game 3* (ESPN Platforms)

Saturday, Oct. 5
ALDS A, Game 1 (TBS, truTV, Max)
ALDS B, Game 1 (TBS, Max)
NLDS A, Game 1 (FOX/FS1)
NLDS B, Game 1 (FOX/FS1)

Sunday, Oct. 6
NLDS A, Game 2 (FOX/FS1)
NLDS B, Game 2 (FOX/FS1)

Monday, Oct. 7
ALDS A, Game 2 (TBS, truTV, Max)
ALDS B, Game 2 (TBS, truTV, Max)

Tuesday, Oct. 8
NLDS A, Game 3 (FOX/FS1)
NLDS B, Game 3 (FOX/FS1)

Wednesday, Oct. 9
ALDS A, Game 3 (TBS, truTV, Max)
ALDS B, Game 3 (TBS, truTV, Max)
NLDS A, Game 4* (FOX/FS1)
NLDS B, Game 4* (FOX/FS1)

Thursday, Oct. 10
ALDS A, Game 4* (TBS, truTV, Max)
ALDS B, Game 4* (TBS, truTV, Max)

Friday, Oct. 11
NLDS A, Game 5* (FOX/FS1)
NLDS B, Game 5* (FOX/FS1)

Saturday, Oct. 12
ALDS A, Game 5* (TBS, Max)
ALDS B, Game 5* (TBS, Max)

Sunday, Oct. 13
NLCS Game 1 (FOX/FS1)

Monday, Oct. 14
ALCS Game 1 (TBS, truTV, Max)
NLCS Game 2 (FOX/FS1)

Tuesday, Oct. 15
ALCS Game 2 (TBS, truTV, Max)

Wednesday, Oct. 16
NLCS Game 3 (FOX/FS1)

Thursday, Oct. 17
ALCS Game 3 (TBS, truTV, Max)
NLCS Game 4 (FOX/FS1)

Friday, Oct. 18
ALCS Game 4 (TBS, truTV, Max)
NLCS Game 5* (FOX/FS1)

Saturday, Oct. 19
ALCS Game 5* (TBS, truTV, Max)

Sunday, Oct. 20
NLCS Game 6* (FOX/FS1)

Monday, Oct. 21
ALCS Game 6* (TBS, truTV, Max)
NLCS Game 7* (FOX/FS1)

Tuesday, Oct. 22
ALCS Game 7* (TBS, truTV, Max)

If both LCS conclude no later than Saturday, Oct. 19, the World Series will move up to start on Tuesday, Oct.22, with a potential Game 7 on Wednesday, Oct. 30.

Friday, Oct. 25
Game 1, at better 2024 record (FOX)

Saturday, Oct. 26
Game 2, at better 2024 record (FOX)

Monday, Oct. 28
Game 3 (FOX)

Tuesday, Oct. 29
Game 4 (FOX)

Wednesday, Oct. 30
Game 5* (FOX)

Friday, Nov. 1
Game 6*, at better 2024 record (FOX)

Saturday, Nov. 2
Game 7*, at better 2024 record (FOX)