Man, 2024 was something else. If you followed the MLB 2024 playoff schedule as it unfolded, you know it wasn't just a series of games. It was a chaotic, beautiful mess of "did that really just happen?" moments. Honestly, by the time we got to the World Series, my nerves were basically shot. We all expected the big dogs to show up, but the way the bracket actually shook out left a lot of experts looking kinda silly.
Remember the Detroit Tigers? They were basically left for dead in August. Then they somehow clawed into the postseason and swept the Astros in Houston. That’s the thing about the October schedule; it doesn't care about your regular-season pedigree. It’s a sprint, not a marathon, and 2024 proved that in the loudest way possible.
The Chaos of the Wild Card Rounds
Everything kicked off on October 1st. It was a Tuesday. The league went with this best-of-three format that basically rewards teams for having one elite ace and a bullpen that can throw 100 mph for three straight days. The MLB 2024 playoff schedule was packed from the jump with four games a day, and honestly, it was hard to keep up.
In the American League, the Tigers didn't just win; they ended the Astros' streak of seven straight ALCS appearances. Just like that. Done. Over on the other side, the Kansas City Royals—led by Bobby Witt Jr.—went into Baltimore and shut down the Orioles. Two sweeps. The AL bracket was flipped on its head before we even got to the weekend.
The National League had its own brand of weirdness. The Mets and Brewers played a three-game thriller in Milwaukee. We all thought the Mets were cooked in Game 3. Then Pete Alonso happened. He hit a three-run homer in the ninth off Devin Williams, a guy who almost never gives up homers. That swing changed the entire trajectory of the New York postseason run. Meanwhile, the Padres made quick work of the Braves, winning in two games and setting up a massive showdown with the Dodgers.
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Breaking Down the Division Series
By October 5th, the real heavy hitters joined the party. The Yankees and Guardians had their feet up for a week, and everyone was asking the same thing: does the "rest vs. rust" factor actually matter?
In the ALDS, it sorta didn't. The Yankees took care of the Royals in four games. It wasn't always pretty, but Giancarlo Stanton decided he was going to hit everything in sight. The Guardians, though, had a dogfight. They went five games with those pesky Tigers. It took a legendary performance from Lane Thomas—a grand slam off Tarik Skubal of all people—to finally put Detroit away in Game 5.
The NLDS Bloodbath
This is where things got personal. Dodgers vs. Padres. Phillies vs. Mets.
- Dodgers vs. Padres: This was probably the highest-intensity series of the year. It went the full five games. San Diego actually had the Dodgers on the ropes, leading 2-1 in the series. Then the Dodgers' bullpen threw 24 consecutive scoreless innings to finish them off.
- Phillies vs. Mets: Philadelphia was the favorite. They had the pitching. They had the home crowd. But the Mets were riding that "Grimace" magic. Francisco Lindor hit a grand slam in Game 4 that literally shook Citi Field. The Phillies went home early, and the NL East crown didn't mean a thing.
The League Championship Series Results
The LCS round started on October 13th for the NL and October 14th for the AL. We were down to the final four: Yankees, Guardians, Dodgers, and Mets.
The Yankees vs. Guardians series was a showcase for Juan Soto. In Game 5, he had one of the best at-bats you’ll ever see against Hunter Gaddis. Foul ball, foul ball, stare-down, then boom. A three-run homer in the 10th inning to send the Yankees to their first World Series since 2009. Cleveland fought hard—David Fry’s walk-off in Game 3 was legendary—but the Yankees just had too much firepower.
On the National League side, the Dodgers and Mets was a weird series. It went six games, but it felt like every game was a blowout one way or the other. The Dodgers' offense was just relentless. Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts were doing what they do, and the Mets' pitching staff finally ran out of gas. Los Angeles clinched it at home in Game 6 with a 10-5 win.
The World Series: Dodgers vs. Yankees
This was the matchup the networks were dreaming about. The two biggest brands in the sport. It started on October 25th at Dodger Stadium.
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Game 1: The Freeman Moment
If you only watch one highlight from the 2024 postseason, make it Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam in Game 1. He was playing on one good ankle. Two outs, bases loaded, bottom of the 10th. He channeled 1988 Kirk Gibson and sent one into the right-field pavilion. The stadium exploded. Honestly, the Yankees never really recovered from that.
The Clincher in the Bronx
The Dodgers took a 3-0 lead. The Yankees avoided the sweep in Game 4 with an Anthony Volpe grand slam, but Game 5 was a disaster for New York. They were up 5-0. Then, the wheels came off. A dropped fly ball, a missed cover at first base, and suddenly the Dodgers tied it up. Los Angeles won 7-6 to take the trophy. Walker Buehler, normally a starter, came out of the bullpen to get the final three outs. It was wild.
What to Take Away From the 2024 Postseason
If you’re looking back at the MLB 2024 playoff schedule to understand how to bet or predict future seasons, here’s the reality: momentum is a lie, but bullpen depth is everything. The Dodgers didn't win because they had Ohtani; they won because their relievers didn't allow a run for days at a time when it mattered most.
Also, don't sleep on the "bye week" teams. For a while, people thought the #1 and #2 seeds were at a disadvantage because they didn't play for five days. Both the Yankees and Dodgers proved that wrong this year. Having your rotation set and your players healthy is a massive advantage if you can weather the first few innings of the Division Series.
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Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Sync Your Calendar: If you're looking for the 2025 dates, expect a similar rollout. The Wild Card round usually starts the Tuesday after the regular season ends.
- Watch the Bullpens: When the 2025 trade deadline hits, pay attention to which contenders are buying middle relievers. That’s where the 2024 playoffs were won and lost.
- Archive the Highlights: Many of the 2024 games are available in full on MLB.tv or YouTube. Watching Game 1 and Game 5 of the World Series back-to-back is basically a masterclass in how small defensive mistakes can destroy a season.
The 2024 postseason was a reminder that in baseball, the best team on paper usually has to survive a gauntlet of "fluke" moments just to prove they belong. The Dodgers survived. Everyone else is just waiting for next April.