Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
October baseball is here. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2023 MLB Playoffs, plus some predictions.
October baseball is here.
With the playoff field set, 12 teams now have their sights set on baseball immortality.
Here is the MLB Postseason bracket:
Here are the start times, dates and television information for the first two rounds of the playoffs, the dates for the ALCS, NLCS, and World Series, and one writer’s attempt at some predictions which are sure to backfire.
American League Playoffs: Start times, TV, dates and games
(All times Eastern)
Wild-Card Round
Tampa Bay Rays (4) vs. Texas Rangers (5)
Game 1: Rangers at Rays, Tuesday, October 3, 3:08 p.m., ABC
Game 2: Rangers at Rays, Wednesday, October 4, 3:08 p.m., ABC
Game 3*: Rangers at Rays, Thursday, October 5, 3:08 p.m., ABC
Minnesota Twins (3) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (6)
Game 1: Blue Jays at Twins, Tuesday, October 3, 4:38 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: Blue Jays at Twins, Wednesday, October 4, 4:38 p.m., ESPN
Game 3*: Blue Jays at Twins, Thursday, October 5, 4:38 p.m., ESPN
American League Divisional Series
Tampa Bay/Texas Winner vs. Baltimore Orioles (1)
Game 1: TB/TEX Winner at Orioles, Saturday, October 7, TBD, FOX/FS1
Game 2: TB/TEX Winner at Orioles, Sunday, October 8, TBD, FOX/FS1
Game 3: Orioles at TB/TEX Winner, Tuesday, October 10, TBD, FOX/FS1
Game 4*: Orioles at TB/TEX Winner, Wednesday, October 11 TBD, FOX/FS1
Game 5*: TB/TEX Winner at Orioles, Friday, October 13 TBD, FOX/FS1
Minnesota/Toronto Winner vs. Houston Astros (2)
Game 1: MIN/TOR Winner at Astros, Saturday, October 7, TBD, FOX/FS1
Game 2: MIN/TOR Winner at Astros, Sunday, October 8, TBD, FOX/FS1
Game 3: Astros at MIN/TOR Winner, Tuesday, October 10, TBD, FOX/FS1
Game 4*: Astros at MIN/TOR Winner, Wednesday, October 11 TBD, FOX/FS1
Game 5*: MIN/TOR Winner at Astros, Friday, October 13 TBD, FOX/FS1
American League Championship Series
Game 1: Lower seed at Higher seed, Sunday, October 15, TBD, FOX/FS1
Game 2: Lower seed at Higher seed, Monday, October 16, TBD, FOX/FS1
Game 3: Higher seed at Lower seed, Wednesday, October 18, TBD, FOX/FS1
Game 4: Higher seed at Lower seed, Thursday, October 19, TBD, FOX/FS1
Game 5*: Higher seed at Lower seed, Friday, October 20, TBD, FOX/FS1
Game 6*: Lower seed at Higher seed, Sunday, October 22, TBD, FOX/FS1
Game 7*: Lower seed at Higher seed, Monday, October 23 TBD, FOX/FS1
National League Playoffs: Start times, TV, dates and games
Wild-Card Round
Milwaukee Brewers (3) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (6)
Game 1: Diamondbacks at Brewers, Tuesday, October 3, 7:08 p.m., ESPN2
Game 2: Diamondbacks at Brewers, Wednesday, October 4, 7:08 p.m., ESPN2
Game 3*: Diamondbacks at Brewers, Thursday, October 5, 7:08 p.m., ESPN2
Philadelphia Phillies (4) vs. Miami Marlins (5)
Game 1: Marlins at Phillies, Tuesday, October 3, 8:08 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: Marlins at Phillies, Wednesday, October 4, 8:08 p.m., ESPN
Game 3*: Marlins at Phillies, Thursday, October 5, 8:08 p.m., ESPN
National League Divisional Series
Philadelphia/Miami Winner vs. Atlanta Braves (1)
Game 1: PHL/MIA Winner at Braves, Saturday, October 7, TBD, TBS
Game 2: PHL/MIA Winner at Braves, Monday, October 9, TBD, TBS
Game 3: Braves at PHL/MIA Winner, Wednesday, October 11, TBD, TBS
Game 4*: Braves at PHL/MIA Winner, Thursday, October 12, TBD, TBS
Game 5*: PHL/MIA Winner at Braves, Saturday, October 14, TBD, TBS
Milwaukee/Arizona Winner vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Game 1: MIL/AZ Winner at Dodgers, Saturday, October 7, TBD, TBS
Game 2: MIL/AZ Winner at Dodgers, Monday, October 9, TBD, TBS
Game 3: Dodgers at MIL/AZ Winner, Wednesday, October 11, TBD, TBS
Game 4*: Dodgers at MIL/AZ Winner, Thursday, October 12, TBD, TBS
Game 5*: MIL/AZ Winner at Dodgers, Saturday, October 14, TBD, TBS
National League Championship Series
Game 1: Lower seed at Higher seed, Monday, October 16, TBD, TBS
Game 2: Lower seed at Higher seed, Tuesday, October 17, TBD, TBS
Game 3: Higher seed at Lower seed, Thursday, October 19, TBD, TBS
Game 4: Higher seed at Lower seed, Friday, October 20, TBD, TBS
Game 5*: Higher seed at Lower seed, Saturday, October 21, TBD, TBS
Game 6*: Lower seed at Higher seed, Monday, October 23, TBD, TBS
Game 7*: Lower seed at Higher seed, Tuesday, October 24, TBD, TBS
Home-field advantage is determined by regular-season win-loss record. Currently, the Braves have the inside track to home-field advantage throughout the postseason and through the World Series, but that will not be determined until we know the final two teams.
Game 1: Lower seed at Higher seed, Friday, October 27, TBD, FOX
Game 2: Lower seed at Higher seed, Saturday, October 28, TBD, FOX
Game 3: Higher seed at Lower seed, Monday, October 30, TBD, FOX
Game 4: Higher seed at Lower seed, Tuesday, October 31, TBD, FOX
Game 5*: Higher seed at Lower seed, Wednesday, November ,1 TBD, FOX
Game 6*: Lower seed at Higher seed, Friday, November 3, TBD, FOX
Game 7*: Lower seed at Higher seed, Saturday, November 4, TBD, FOX
*If necessary
Predictions
We have more on each of the 12 playoff teams in our World Series contender rankings, which dives into how each team can make a run to a World Series. But here is one writer’s look at how the postseason will play out.
American League:
Twins over Blue Jays in 3
Rays over Rangers in 3
Astros over Twins in 5
Orioles over Rays in 4
Orioles over Astros in 7
National League:
Brewers over Diamondbacks in 2
Phillies over Marlins in 2
Brewers over Dodgers in 6
Braves over Phillies in 6
Braves over Brewers in 6
World Series
Orioles over Braves in 7
