The 2021 MLB playoffs are here, and we have you covered with all you need to know
2 min read
The 2021 Major League Baseball postseason is here, as the 10-field team was set on Sunday. This year’s playoffs mark a return to some sense of normalcy for the sport. Gone are the neutral sites, the fanless games, and the 16-team format; the concepts of home-field advantage and sellouts are back, and so is the 10-team field. For a reminder on how the rounds typically work, here’s a quick refresher:
- Wild Card Game: winner advances
- Division Series (two per league): best-of-five series
- Championship Series: best-of-seven series
- World Series: best-of-seven series
The Yankees and Red Sox clinched the final two spots in the playoff field on Sunday, fending off the Blue Jays and Mariners and denying fans the chaos of a Game 163 tiebreaker on Monday. The Giants also clinched the NL West on the regular season’s final day, sending the Dodgers to the NL Wild Card Game in the process.
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So what does the MLB playoff bracket look like? Below you’ll find the schedule and the results for all the rounds as they play out, beginning with the Wild Card Game, extending through the League Division and Championship Series, and concluding with — what else — the 2021 World Series.
2021 MLB playoff bracket
2021 MLB postseason schedule
Wild Card Games (single elimination)
| DATE | MATCHUP | START TIME (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Tues., Oct 5 |
Yankees at Red sox (AL) |
8:08 p.m. |
ESPN |
|
Weds., Oct 6 |
Cardinals at Dodgers (NL) |
8:10 p.m. |
TBS |
League Division Series (best-of-five)
| DATE | SERIES/GAME | MATCHUP | START TIME (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Thurs., Oct. 7 |
ALDS Game 1 |
Astros vs. White Sox |
4:07 p.m. |
FS1 |
|
ALDS Game 1 |
Rays vs. TBD |
8:07 p.m. |
FS1 |
|
|
Fri., Oct. 8 |
ALDS Game 2 |
Astros vs. White Sox |
2:07 p.m. |
MLB Network |
|
NLDS Game 1 |
Brewers vs. Braves |
4:37 p.m. |
TBS |
|
|
ALDS Game 2 |
Rays vs. TBD |
7:02 p.m. |
FS1 |
|
|
NLDS Game 1 |
Giants vs. TBD |
9:37 p.m. |
TBS |
|
|
Sat., Oct. 9 |
NLDS Game 2 |
Brewers vs. Braves |
5:07 p.m. |
TBS |
|
NLDS Game 2 |
Giants vs. TBD |
9:07 p.m. |
TBS |
|
|
Sun., Oct. 10 |
ALDS Game 3 |
TBD vs. Rays |
4:07 p.m. |
MLB Network |
|
ALDS Game 3 |
White Sox vs. Astros |
8:07 p.m. |
FS1 |
|
|
Mon., Oct. 11 |
ALDS Game 4 (if nec.) |
TBD vs. Rays |
TBA |
FS1 or MLB Network |
|
ALDS Game 4 (if nec.) |
White Sox vs. Astros |
TBA |
FS1 or MLB Network |
|
|
NLDS Game 3 |
Braves vs. Brewers |
TBA |
TBS |
|
|
NLDS Game 3 |
TBD vs. Giants |
TBA |
TBS |
|
|
Tues., Oct. 12 |
NLDS Game 4 (if nec.) |
Braves vs. Brewers |
TBA |
TBS |
|
NLDS Game 4 (if nec.) |
TBD vs. Giants |
TBA |
TBS |
|
|
Weds., Oct. 13 |
ALDS Game 5 (if nec.) |
Astros vs. White Sox |
TBA |
FS1 |
|
ALDS Game 5 (if nec.) |
Rays vs. TBD |
TBA |
FS1 |
|
|
Thurs., Oct 14 |
NLDS Game 5 (if nec.) |
Brewers vs. Braves |
TBA |
TBS |
|
NLDS Game 5 (if nec.) |
Giants vs. TBD |
TBA |
TBS |
Former Marlins president David Samson discussed the biggest surprises and disappointments from the 2021 regular season on Monday’s Nothing Personal with David Samson. Listen below:
League Championship Series (best-of-seven)
| DATE | SERIES/GAME | MATCHUP | START TIME (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Fri., Oct. 15 |
ALCS Game 1 |
TBD |
TBA |
Fox |
|
Sat., Oct. 16 |
ALCS Game 2 |
TBD |
TBA |
Fox or FS1 |
|
NLCS Game 1 |
TBD |
TBA |
TBS |
|
|
Sun., Oct. 17 |
NLCS Game 2 |
TBD |
TBA |
TBS |
|
Mon., Oct. 18 |
ALCS Game 3 |
TBD |
TBA |
FS1 |
|
Tues., Oct. 19 |
ALCS Game 4 |
TBD |
TBA |
FS1 |
|
NLCS Game 3 |
TBD |
TBA |
TBS |
|
|
Weds., Oct. 20 |
ALCS Game 5 (if nec.) |
TBD |
TBA |
FS1 |
|
NLCS Game 4 |
TBD |
TBA |
TBS |
|
|
Thurs., Oct. 21 |
NLCS Game 5 (if nec.) |
TBD |
TBA |
TBS |
|
Fri., Oct. 22 |
ALCS Game 6 (if nec.) |
TBD |
TBA |
TBS |
|
Sat., Oct. 23 |
ALCS Game 7 (if nec.) |
TBD |
TBA |
Fox or FS1 |
|
NLCS Game 6 (if nec.) |
TBD |
TBA |
TBS |
|
|
Sun., Oct. 24 |
NLCS Game 7 (if nec.) |
TBD |
TBA |
TBS |
World Series (best-of-seven)
| DATE | GAME | MATCHUP | START TIME (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tues., Oct. 26 |
Game 1 |
TBD |
TBA |
Fox |
|
Weds., Oct. 27 |
Game 2 |
TBD |
TBA |
Fox |
|
Fri., Oct. 29 |
Game 3 |
TBD |
TBA |
Fox |
|
Sat., Oct. 30 |
Game 4 |
TBD |
TBA |
Fox |
|
Sun., Oct. 31 |
Game 5 (if nec.) |
TBD |
TBA |
Fox |
|
Tues., Nov. 2 |
Game 6 (if nec.) |
TBD |
TBA |
Fox |
|
Weds., Nov. 3 |
Game 7 (if nec.) |
TBD |
TBA |
Fox |
2021 MLB postseason gear now available
The 2021 MLB Playoffs start Oct. 5 and 6 with the AL and NL Wild Card games. In celebration, 2021 MLB postseason gear is now available for select teams. Shop hoodies, shirts, and more here.
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