MLB Playoffs 2021: Bracket, Schedule, Matchups For American And National League

Despite the potential for chaos on the final day of the regular season, Major League Baseball avoided all tiebreaker scenarios and the need to play any additional games before the postseason. Ten teams have punched their tickets to the 2021 MLB playoffs and will continue their chase for a World Series championship in the coming days.

The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox clinched the American League wild-card spots Sunday by scoring game-winning runs in the ninth inning. Had they lost, it would’ve created a three-way tie between the rivals and the Toronto Blue Jays, requiring two more games to determine the wild-card matchup. Boston hosts New York Tuesday in the AL Wild-Card Game, and the winner will take on the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS.

The San Francisco Giants needed to win the regular-season finale in order to avoid a 163rd game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. San Francisco clinched the NL West title and home-field advantage through the World Series with its league-best 107th victory of the season.

After winning 106 games, the Dodgers can see their season come to an end if they are upset by the visiting St. Louis Cardinals in Wednesday’s NL Wild-Card Game. The winner will face San Francisco in the NLDS.

The Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, and Atlanta Braves fill out the rest of the MLB playoff bracket. Houston has a home-field advantage against Chicago in the ALDS after finishing two games ahead of the White Sox in the standings. With a seven-game edge over Atlanta as the No. 2 seed, the Brewers have a home-field advantage against the Braves in the NLDS.

Game 1 of both ALDS matchups is set for Thursday. The two NL series start Friday, and Game 2 of the AL series will be on the schedule. Game 2 of both NL series are the only contests scheduled for Saturday.

The only scheduled off-days in the division series are travel days in between Game 2 and 3, as well as before a potential Game 5. The exact start times will be determined after the wild-card games.

If an ALDS matchup goes the distance, it will be decided on Oct. 13. A winner-take-all Game 5 in the NLDS would be played on Oct. 14.