MLB Playoff Tracker 2024: Schedule, Decision Scenarios, Table

As the final month of the 2024 MLB season approaches, some teams are already looking ahead to October.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies have built comfortable leads in the National League, while the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians are all virtually certain candidates for the postseason despite battling for the top spot in their own divisions.

Beyond the divisional races, there are many exciting events to watch at the end of the regular season.

What's the current state of playoff matchups? Which games should you watch today? Which team will be the first to secure a postseason spot? And what's the playoff schedule? We've got everything you need to know as the regular season enters the home stretch.

Important links: Full MLB Standings | Wildcard Standings | Predictions

Who can secure a place in the playoffs next?

The New York Yankees have a magic number of three; they can clinch a postseason berth on Wednesday. The Cleveland Guardians' magic number is three; they can also clinch a berth on Wednesday.

In the NL, the Philadelphia Phillies' magic number to win the postseason is three; their magic number to win the NL East is five. The Milwaukee Brewers' magic number to win the NL Central is two. The Dodgers have a magic number of three. The Brewers could clinch their postseason spot on Tuesday; the Phillies and Dodgers can win as early as Wednesday.

What are the current MLB playoff pairings this October?

American League

Wildcard round: (6) Twins at (3) Astros, (5) Royals at (4) Orioles

ALDS: Twins/Astros vs. (2) Guardians, Royals/Orioles vs. (1) Yankees

Bundesliga

Wildcard round: (6) Mets at (3) Brewers, (5) D-backs at (4) Padres

NLDS: Mets/Brewers vs. (2) Dodgers, D-backs/Padres vs. (1) Phillies

Tiebreaker

If LA and Philadelphia have the best records, the Phillies would finish first due to their better head-to-head record with the Dodgers this season.

The head-to-head matchup of the season would determine first place in the AL if Cleveland finished the season with the best record in the league and the champion of the AL East: Guardians vs. Orioles; Yankees vs. Guardians.

If the Yankees, Orioles and Guardians all finish with the same record, Baltimore would finish first in the AL based on the three teams' records within the division.

If Baltimore and New York end up playing in a tie, the Orioles currently hold the AL East tiebreaker as they lead the Yankees 6-4 in the head-to-head season series (with three games remaining).

If Atlanta and New York tie, the Mets currently hold the last NL playoff spot because they have the better record within the division, as the teams are tied 5-5 in the season series with three games remaining.

Analysis of the AL race

The Yankees and Orioles are now in the home stretch of battling for first place in the AL and the AL East crown, while the Red Sox still have hopes of the AL wild-card crown. After comfortably leading the AL Central for most of the season, the Guardians are looking to leapfrog the Royals and Twins in the battle for the division crown, while the Astros are trying to pull away from the Mariners in a two-team race for the AL West.

And what about these teams making it to the postseason? Here are their odds for each round:

Analysis of the NL race

Five teams have moved ahead at the top of the NL standings, with the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets battling for the final playoff spot. The Phillies and Brewers appear to be on their way to division titles. The Dodgers have opened up a lead in the race for the NL West, and the D-backs and Padres are also likely to join LA in the postseason.

And what about these teams making it to the postseason? Here are their odds for each round:

Match of the day

Looking for something to watch today? Here's the baseball game with the biggest playoff impact:

Playoff schedule

Wildcard Series
Best of Three, all games in the stadium of the better seeded team

Game 1: Tuesday, October 1st
Game 2: Wednesday, October 2
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 3*

Division Series
The best of five

ALDS
Game 1: Saturday, October 5
Game 2: Monday, October 7
Game 3: Wednesday, October 9
Game 4: Thursday, October 10*
Game 5: Saturday, October 12*

NLDS
Game 1: Saturday, October 5
Game 2: Sunday, October 6
Game 3: Tuesday, October 8
Game 4: Wednesday, October 9*
Game 5: Friday, October 11*

League Championship Series
The best of seven

ALCS
Game 1: Monday, October 14
Game 2: Tuesday, October 15
Game 3: Thursday, October 17
Game 4: Friday, October 18
Game 5: Saturday, October 19*
Game 6: Monday, October 21*
Game 7: Tuesday, October 22*

NLCS
Game 1: Sunday, October 13
Game 2: Monday, October 14
Game 3: Wednesday, October 16
Game 4: Thursday, October 17
Game 5: Friday, October 18*
Game 6: Sunday, October 20*
Game 7: Monday, October 21*

World Cup
The best of seven

Game 1: Friday, October 25
Game 2: Saturday, October 26
Game 3: Monday, October 28
Game 4: Tuesday, October 29
Game 5: Wednesday, October 30*
Game 6: Friday, November 1st*
Game 7: Saturday, November 2nd*

Note: If both LCSs end by October 19th – meaning neither series lasts longer than five games – the World Series will begin on Tuesday, October 22nd.

* If required