The MLB playoffs schedule is set and here is everything to know for the postseason with game start times, TV channel coverage and pitching matchups for the AL and NL series. The American League and National League wild card games open the playoffs and those will be on ESPN and TBS before the ALDS and NLDS series open up.
AL Wild Card game: Yankees-Astros
The American League wild card game is the first game on the schedule for the postseason and that will have the New York Yankees and the Houston Astros playing. The game will be from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and TV coverage is from ESPN and will start at 8 pm ET. The pitching matchup is a good one with Masahiro Tanaka taking on Dallas Keuchel and both of these teams are in the playoffs after missing out last season.
NL Wild Card game: Pirates-Cubs
The National League wild card game is on Wednesday and will have the Chicago Cubs visiting the Pittsburgh Pirates for an NL Central matchup. Jake Arrieta will pitch for the Cubs, while Gerrit Cole will get the ball for the Bucs and this game is on TBS and will start up at 8 pm ET. The Cubs are making a postseason appearance for the first time in years, while the Pirates now are hosting yet another wild card game and will be looking to make a run this season.
AL Divisional Series: Rangers-Blue Jays
The American League Divisional Series starts up on Thursday for the Rangers and the Pirates and that coverage of this series will be from FOX, Fox Sports 1 or MLB Network. The series has Game 1 and Game 2 on Thursday and Friday and things will later pick up with Game 3 on October 11. Game 4 will be on October 12 and Game 5 will be on October 14 if necessary. David Price is slated for Game 1 for the Jays.
NL Divisional Series: Dodgers-Mets
The National League Divisional Series with the Dodgers and Mets could be one of the best of the postseason. The Mets will throw Jacob deGrom in Game 1 against either Zack Greinke or Clayton Kershaw and that will be on Friday. TV coverage of the series is on TBS and the second game will be on Saturday.
Other ALDS and NLDS series with Cardinals and Royals
The other ALDS and NLDS series will have the Cardinals and the Royals taking on the winners of the wild card games and those teams will host the wild card winners. The NLDS series with the Cardinals starts up on Friday at St. Louis, while the AL series starts on Thursday with the wild card winner visiting Kansas City.
The other playoff series start on these dates:
AL Championship Series on FOX starts October 16
NL Championship Series on TBS starts October 17
World Series starts on FOX October 27
