The MLB playoffs are just around the corner and the Wild Card Game round will be first for the postseason on the schedule. The American League Wild Card game will be first on October 6 with TV coverage from ESPN, while the National League will be the following night on TBS.
The wild card teams are essentially set in the National League with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs, while the American League still has some contenders battling. The New York Yankees are in strong position to make it as the first wild card, as they have a four game lead over the Houston Astros. The Astros are hanging on ahead of the Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Angels and Baltimore Orioles.
The Texas Rangers overtook the Astros in the AL West and now Houston is trying to hang on to their playoff position heading into the final stretch of the season. The NL is basically over with, as the Pirates have already clinched a playoff spot and the Cubs are 9.5 games ahead of the San Francisco Giants in the standings. The Pirates are up a few games on the Cubs and that means the wild card game likely will be in Pittsburgh.
The playoff field is basically set in both leagues apart from the AL's second wild card, as the division leaders in the American League are the Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers. The Royals have the Central and the Blue Jays are pushing the Yankees back, while the Rangers are starting to put some distance between themselves and the Astros. The Mets have the NL East, the Dodgers are winning the West, while the central has the Cardinals up a few games on the Pirates. Either way, the Cards, Pirates and Cubs are all going to be in the playoffs.
The MLB playoffs will start with the AL wild card game and that will be on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 8:08 ET with coverage on TV from ESPN. The NL wild card game will be on Oct. 7 at 8:08 ET and will be on TBS. The American League Division series will start on Thursday, October 8, while the National League division series will start on Friday, October 9. Coverage for the ALDS will be on FOX and FS1 while the NLDS will be on TBS.
The American League Champions Series will start on Friday October 16 and coverage for those games will be on Fox channels. The National League Championship Series is on schedule for Saturday, October 17 and will be on TBS. The World Series opens at the American League team on Tuesday, October 27 and will be on FOX.
Check here for the MLB playoffs schedule and wild card schedule.