How the MLB playoffs work: Teams, format, dates and more

October baseball has arrived.

The 2024 MLB playoffs got underway Tuesday following a thrilling final day of the regular season that saw the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves lock up the final two postseason spots.

Atlanta and New York are among 12 clubs who earned the opportunity to compete for this year's World Series title.

From the rest of the playoff field to the format and more, here's everything you need to know about the MLB postseason:

When do the MLB playoffs start?

The postseason got underway on Tuesday, Oct. 1.

How many teams make the MLB playoffs?

A total of 12 teams -- six from each league -- make the postseason.

How many wild cards make the MLB playoffs?

The playoff field in each league consists of three division winners and three wild-card teams.

What are the MLB playoff seeds?

Here's a breakdown of the field by league:

American League

1. New York Yankees (AL East champions)
2. Cleveland Guardians (AL Central champions)
3. Houston Astros (AL West champions)
4. Baltimore Orioles (wild card)
5. Kansas City Royals (wild card)
6. Detroit Tigers (wild card)

National League

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West champions)
2. Philadelphia Phillies (NL East champions)
3. Milwaukee Brewers (NL Central champions)
4. San Diego Padres (wild card)
5. Atlanta Braves (wild card)
6. New York Mets (wild card)

How do the MLB playoffs work?

The MLB playoff format seeds teams 1-6 in each league, with the three division winners making up the top three seeds followed by the three wild-card teams. The top two seeds in each league receive a bye to the Division Series.

The remaining four teams in each league compete in a best-of-three Wild Card Series where the higher-seeded team has home-field advantage for all three games. The matchups are No. 3 vs. No. 6 (third-best division winner vs. third-best wild-card team) and No. 4 vs. No. 5 (best wild-card team vs. second-best wild-card team).

What are the MLB playoff matchups and bracket?

The Yankees, Guardians, Dodgers and Phillies will be awaiting the Wild Card Series winners in the Division Series. Here's a look at those opening-round matchups:

American League

• No. 3 Houston Astros vs. No. 6 Detroit Tigers
• No. 4 Baltimore Orioles vs. No. 5 Kansas City Royals

National League

• No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers vs. No. 6 New York Mets
• No. 4 San Diego Padres vs. No. 5 Atlanta Braves

The stage is set 🤩

Which team do you have winning it all? #Postseason pic.twitter.com/ug0SkWgc4F

— MLB (@MLB) October 1, 2024

Do the MLB playoffs reseed?

There is no reseeding in the MLB playoffs, meaning the top seed in each league will face the winner of the 4-5 matchup in the Division Series, while the No. 2 seed draws the winner of the 3-6 matchup.

How many games are in an MLB playoff series?

The Wild Card Series has a best-of-three format where the higher seed hosts all three games. The Division Series is best of five with a 2-2-1 format where the higher seed hosts Games 1, 2 and 5.

Both the League Championship Series and the World Series have a best-of-seven, 2-3-2 format where the higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 6 and 7.

What's the MLB playoff schedule?

Here's a breakdown of the tentative dates for the first three rounds of the postseason:

Wild Card Series: Oct. 1-3

Division Series: Oct. 5-12

League Championship Series: Oct. 13-22

When does the World Series start?

The World Series begins on Friday, Oct. 25, and a potential Game 7 is slated for Saturday, Nov. 2.