After a grueling 162 games and six months, the MLB postseason is almost here. It is scheduled to begin on October 5, with the American League (AL) wild-card game, followed by the National League (NL) wild-card game a day later. The the World Series begins on October 26, with a potential Game 7 scheduled for November 3. This is the latest in the year the World Series has run since 2009. The final lineup is now almost in focus and, with the MLB standings pretty much set, the Tampa Bay Rays have become the first AL team to have a guaranteed spot in the race for the title.
Less Than Two Weeks Until the Action Begins
After the Wild Card games, the ALDS starts Thursday, October 7, with a quadruple-header Friday. The ALCS starts October 15, while the NLCS begins a day later. They can run as late as October 23 and October 24, respectively. The team with the best record will receive home-field advantage, if it matters, in the World Series, which will follow the 2-3-2 format.
Already starting to prepare for a deep run, the Rays are figuring out a new strategy to use during the postseason. The defending AL champions are a lock for the playoffs, as they beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 7-1, on Wednesday night. This makes the club’s third sequential season finisher appearance, the longest streak in the history of the franchise.
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T&C APPLY | NJ, PA, IN, CO, NJ, MI, IA, LA, MS, OH ONLY Join NowTampa Bay got out ahead of Toronto from the start, scoring six runs in the third inning against Ross Stripling and Tayler Saucedo. After Yandy DÃaz put the Rays on the board off a sacrifice fly, Austin Meadows tore the game open with a three-run home run. Two additional runs went over on an infield single by Taylor Walls.
Since first making the postseason in 2008, the Rays have progressed to the end of the season in seven out of 14 years. They have won the AL pennant twice – once in 2008 and again last season. The Rays entered Wednesday’s game with a six-game lead over the Boston Red Sox for the AL East lead. A division title would be their second straight and third in the team’s history. Tampa Bay is 41-22 since the All-Star break.
A Look at the Schedule
Wild-Card Games
- Tuesday, October 5: AL wild-card
- Wednesday, October 6: NL wild-card
Division Series (Best of Five)
American League
- Game 1: Thursday, October 7
- Game 2: Friday, October 8
- Game 3: Sunday, October 10
If necessary:
- Game 4: Monday, October 11
- Game 5: Wednesday, October 13
National League
- Game 1: Friday, October 8
- Game 2: Saturday, October 9
- Game 3: Monday, October 11
If necessary:
- Game 4: Tuesday, October 12
- Game 5: Thursday, October 14
Championship Series (Best of seven)
American League
- Game 1: Friday, October 15
- Game 2: Saturday, October 16
- Game 3: Monday, October 18
- Game 4: Tuesday, October 19
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T&C APPLY | NJ, PA, IN, CO, NJ, MI, IA, LA, MS, OH ONLY Join Now- Game 5: Wednesday, October
- Game 6: Friday, October 22
- Game 7: Saturday, October 23
National League
- Game 1: Saturday, October 16
- Game 2: Sunday, October 17
- Game 3: Tuesday, October 19
- Game 4: Wednesday, October 20
If necessary:
- Game 5: Thursday, October 21
- Game 6: Saturday, October 23
- Game 7: Sunday, October 24
World Series (Best of seven)
- Game 1: Tuesday, October 26
- Game 2: Wednesday, October 27
- Game 3: Friday, October 29
- Game 4: Saturday, October 30
If necessary:
- Game 5: Sunday, October 31
- Game 6: Tuesday, November 2
- Game 7: Wednesday, November 3
