MLB: 2016 Postseason Schedule Announced
By Nick Fustor
MLB announced the 2016 postseason schedule and TV plans on Tuesday. The World Series starts October 25.
The 2016 MLB postseason will begin on Oct. 4, with the American League Wild Card game being aired on TBS. One night later, the National League Wild Card game will be aired on ESPN.
As of now, at least three division races seem to be all but over, while the Wild Card races are raging on. The NL East, NL Central and AL Central all have large gaps between the first and second place team.
While other divisions like the AL West have yet to be decided, only the AL East and NL West are within two game leads.
Here’s a look at every team that would make the playoffs if they were to begin today. For full standings, click here.
AL East: Boston Red Sox (70-54)/Toronto Blue Jays (70-54, 2.0 game lead)
AL Central: Cleveland Indians (72-51, 7.5 game lead)
AL West: Texas Rangers (73-52, 5.5 game lead)
AL Wild Card: Red Sox/Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles (68-56, 1.0 game lead)
NL East: Washington Nationals (73-51, 8.0 game lead)
NL Central: Chicago Cubs (79-45, 12.5 game lead)
NL West: Los Angeles Dodgers (69-55, 1.0 game lead)
NL Wild Card: San Francisco Giants (68-56) and St. Louise Cardinals (66-57, 1.5 game lead)
With plenty of games left to be played, those standings could look drastically different in a few weeks.
As in the case of the AL East right now, any tiebreaker games would be played on Oct. 3.
Both AL Division Series will start on Oct. 6, while the NLDS begins on Oct. 7. Those series will run through Oct. 12 and 13, as necessary.
The AL Championship Series begins on Oct. 14, and the NLCS starts on Oct. 15. The potential game sevens will be played on Oct. 22 and 23, respectively.
Each league winner will get a few days off before the World Series begins on Oct. 25, which will run into November if necessary. After defeating the NL in the All Star game, the AL once again has home field advantage – and will host the first two games of the World Series.
Below is a full look at every date and TV broadcast.
Wild Card
AL Wild Card Game: Oct. 4 (TBS)
NL Wild Card Game: Oct. 5 (ESPN)
ALDS
Game 1: Oct. 6 (TBS)
Game 2: Oct. 7 (TBS)
Game 3: Oct. 9 (TBS)
Game 4*: Oct. 10 (TBS)
Game 5*: Oct. 12 (TBS)
NLDS
Game 1: Oct. 7 (FS1 or MLBN)
Game 2: Oct. 8 (FS1 or MLBN)
Game 3: Oct. 10 (FS1 or MLBN)
Game 4*: Oct. 11 (FS1 or MLBN)
Game 5*: Oct. 13 (FS1 or MLBN)
ALCS
Game 1: Oct. 14 (TBS)
Game 2: Oct. 15 (TBS)
Game 3: Oct. 17 (TBS)
Game 4: Oct. 18 (TBS)
Game 5*: Oct. 19 (TBS)
Game 6*: Oct. 21 (TBS)
Game 7*: Oct. 22 (TBS)
NLCS
Game 1: Oct. 15 (FOX or FS1)
Game 2: Oct. 16 (FOX or FS1)
Game 3: Oct. 18 (FOX or FS1)
Game 4: Oct. 19 (FOX or FS1)
Game 5*: Oct. 20 (FOX or FS1)
Game 6*: Oct. 22 (FOX or FS1)
Game 7*: Oct. 23 (FOX or FS1)
World Series
Game 1: Oct. 25 (FOX)
Game 2: Oct. 26 (FOX)
Game 3: Oct. 28 (FOX)
Game 4: Oct. 29 (FOX)
Game 5*: Oct. 30 (FOX)
Game 6*: Nov. 1 (FOX)
Game 7*: Nov. 2 (FOX)
*Game played if necessary
Next: A.J. Pollock to Return This Week
All dates are subject to weather.