2024 MLB Playoffs Series: Wild Card Series schedule, postseason matchups as baseball begins in October

Major League Baseball's 2024 postseason began Tuesday with four Game 1s in the best-of-three Wild Card Series. The Detroit Tigers started the afternoon with a win over the Houston Astros. Elsewhere in the American League, the Baltimore Orioles host the Kansas City Royals. On the National League side, it's the Milwaukee Brewers versus the New York Mets and the San Diego Padres versus the Atlanta Braves.

Whoever loses on Tuesday will have their season at stake in the second game on Wednesday. Whoever wins on Tuesday will be just one win away from advancing.

Four teams – the top two teams in each league – received first-round byes. The New York Yankees, Cleveland Guardians, Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies have all advanced to the League Division Series.

The Mets and Braves clinched the final two postseason spots on Monday, leaving the Arizona Diamondbacks on the outside of the playoffs. The Mets won a wild Game 1 of a crucial doubleheader in Atlanta to clinch their spot. The Braves regrouped and won Game 2, becoming the 12th and final playoff team.

The Braves, Mets and D-Backs all finished with 89-73 records. The Braves secured the tiebreaker against both teams and will be No. 5 in the standings. The Mets won the tiebreaker against Arizona and are the No. 6 seed.

The Wild Card Series will all be hosted by the higher seeded teams and will end on Thursday, October 3rd. The LDS round begins on Saturday, October 5th. The League Championship Series begins on Sunday, October 13th. And the World Series begins on either Tuesday, October 22nd or Friday, October 25th. (You can click here to view the full playoff schedule.)

Here's a look at the complete 2024 MLB playoff round. Game times for the Wild Card Series were announced Sunday evening.

2024 MLB Playoffs Series

Wild Card Series

(All times Eastern)

Tuesday, October 1st
AL Wild Card Series Game 1: Tigers 3, Astros 1 (Detroit leads 1-0)
AL Wild Card Series Game 1: Orioles vs. Royals, 4:08 p.m., ESPN2/fubo (try free)
NL Wild Card Series Game 1: Brewers vs. Mets, 5:32 p.m., ESPN/fubo (try free)
NL Wild Card Series Game 1: Padres vs. Braves, 8:38 p.m., ESPN/fubo (try free)

Tuesday, October 2nd
AL Wild Card Series Game 2: Astros vs. Tigers, 2:32 p.m., ABC/fubo (try free)
AL Wild Card Series Game 2: Orioles vs. Royals, 4:38 p.m., ESPN/fubo (try free)
NL Wild Card Series Game 2: Brewers vs. Mets, 7:38 p.m., ESPN/fubo (try free)
NL Wild Card Series Game 2: Padres vs. Braves, 8:38 p.m., ESPN2/fubo (try free)

Tuesday, October 3rd
*AL Wild Card Series Game 3: Astros vs. Tigers, 2:32 p.m., ABC/fubo (try free)
*AL Wild Card Series Game 3: Orioles vs. Royals, 4:08 p.m., ESPN/fubo (try free)
*NL Wild Card Series Game 3: Padres vs. Braves, 7:08 p.m., ESPN/fubo (try free)
*NL Wild Card Series Game 3: Brewers vs. Mets, 8:38 p.m., ESPN2/fubo (try free)
*-if required

Division Series

Saturday, October 5th
ALDS Game 1: Guardians vs. TBD
ALDS Game 1: Yankees vs. TBD
NLDS Game 1: Phillies vs. TBD
NLDS Game 1: Dodgers vs. TBD

Sunday, October 6th
NLDS Game 2: Phillies vs. TBD
NLDS Game 2: Dodgers vs. TBD

Monday, October 7th
ALDS Game 2: Guardians vs. TBD
ALDS Game 2: Yankees vs. TBD

Tuesday, October 8th
NLDS Game 3: TBD vs. Phillies
NLDS Game 3: TBD vs. Dodgers

Wednesday, October 9th
ALDS Game 3: TBD vs. Guardians
ALDS Game 3: TBD vs. Yankees
NLDS Game 4: TBD vs. Phillies (if necessary)
NLDS Game 4: TBD vs. Dodgers (if necessary)

Thursday, October 10th
ALDS Game 4: TBD vs. Guardians (if necessary)
ALDS Game 4: TBD vs. Yankees (if necessary)

Friday, October 11th
NLDS Game 5: Phillies vs. TBD (if necessary)
NLDS Game 5: Dodgers vs. TBD (if necessary)

Saturday, October 12th
ALDS Game 5: Guardians vs. TBD (if necessary)
ALDS Game 5: Yankees vs. TBD (if necessary)