The 2021 MLB playoffs start this week and could stretch into November
3 min read
The 2021 MLB postseason has arrived. The Red Sox eliminated the Yankees in the AL Wild Card Game to kick off the playoffs at Fenway Park on Tuesday. The Dodgers, despite 106 wins, needed a Chris Taylor walk-off home run to knock off the Cardinals in the NL Wild Card Game on Wednesday. The Rays, Astros, White Sox, Giants, Brewers and Braves round out the playoff field.
MLB used a 16-team postseason format during the pandemic-shortened 60-game season a year ago. This season they’re going back to the usual 10-team format, which means the return of the winner-take-all Wild Card Game. As a reminder, the three division winners in each league advance directly to the League Division Series. The non-division winners with the two best records meet in the Wild Card Game, with the winner advancing to face the team with the league’s best record in the LDS. The LDS is a best-of-five, then the League Championship Series and World Series are both best-of-sevens.
Below is the complete 2021 MLB postseason schedule. All games on the ESPN networks, Fox, FS1 and MLB Network can be streamed via fuboTV (Try for free).
Wild Card Games (single elimination)
League Division Series (best-of-five)
|
Thurs., Oct. 7 |
ALDS Game 1 |
Astros vs. White Sox |
FS1 |
|
|
ALDS Game 1 |
Red Sox vs. Rays |
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. Red Sox |
7:02 p.m. |
FS1 |
|
|
NLDS Game 1 |
Giants vs. Dodgers |
9:37 p.m. |
TBS |
|
|
Sat., Oct. 9 |
NLDS Game 2 |
Brewers vs. Braves |
5:07 p.m. |
TBS |
|
NLDS Game 2 |
Giants vs. Brewers |
9:07 p.m. |
TBS |
|
|
Sun., Oct. 10 |
ALDS Game 3 |
Red Sox vs. Rays |
4:07 p.m. |
MLB Network |
|
ALDS Game 3 |
White Sox vs. Astros |
8:07 p.m. |
FS1 |
|
|
Mon., Oct. 11 |
NLDS Game 3 |
Braves vs. Brewers |
1:07 p.m. |
TBS |
|
ALDS Game 4 (if nec.) |
White Sox vs. Astros |
3:37 p.m. |
FS1 |
|
|
ALDS Game 4 (if nec.) |
Red Sox vs. Rays |
7:07 p.m. |
FS1 |
|
|
NLDS Game 3 |
Dodgers vs. Giants |
9:37 p.m. |
TBS |
|
|
Tues., Oct. 12 |
NLDS Game 4 (if nec.) |
Braves vs. Brewers |
5:07 p.m. |
TBS |
|
NLDS Game 4 (if nec.) |
Dodgers vs. Giants |
9:07 p.m. |
TBS |
|
|
Weds., Oct. 13 |
ALDS Game 5 (if nec.) |
Rays vs. Red Sox |
5:07 p.m. |
FS1 |
|
ALDS Game 5 (if nec.) |
Astros vs. White Sox |
9:07 p.m. |
FS1 |
|
|
Thurs., Oct 14 |
NLDS Game 5 (if nec.) |
Brewers vs. Braves |
5:07 p.m. |
TBS |
|
NLDS Game 5 (if nec.) |
Giants vs. Dodgers |
9:07 p.m. |
TBS |
League Championship Series (best-of-seven)
|
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)
|
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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