The 2024 National League Wild Card Series will be two best-of-three playoff series in Major League Baseball (MLB) that determined the participating teams of the 2024 National League Division Series (NLDS). Both Wild Card Series will begin on October 1, with Game 2s scheduled for October 2. ESPN will broadcast both Wild Card Series in the United States together with ESPN Radio.[1][2]
| 2024 National League Wild Card Series | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||
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| Dates | October 1–3 | ||||||||
| Television | ESPN | ||||||||
| Radio | ESPN | ||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||
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| Dates | October 1–3 | ||||||||
| Television | ESPN | ||||||||
| Radio | ESPN | ||||||||
These matchups are:
- (3) Milwaukee Brewers (NL Central champions) vs. (6) TBD (third wild card)
- (4) San Diego Padres (first wild card) vs. (5) TBD (second wild card)
Background
editThe lowest-seeded division winner and three wild card teams in each league play in a best-of-three series after the end of the regular season. The winners of each league's wild card rounds advance to face the two best division winners in that league's Division Series.
Due to Hurricane Helene that is planned to impact Georgia, the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves are scheduled to play a double-header on September 30, the day before the Wild Card Series is slated to start, in order to determine seeding (Atlanta is 6–5 against New York), as the Arizona Diamondbacks (by coincidence also playing a division opponent with the Padres, who they are 5–5 against in 2024) will play their last game of the regular season the day before; Atlanta and New York have the tiebreaker over Arizona.
The Milwaukee Brewers qualified for the postseason as the National League Central division winner, clinching the division via a Chicago Cubs loss on September 18.[3] As the team with the lowest record among other division winners in the National League for this season, they are locked into the third seed following the Philadelphia Phillies victory over the Chicago Cubs on September 25, thus giving Philadelphia a first-round bye.[4] Milwaukee is making their their sixth postseason appearance in seven seasons and are looking for their first postseason series victory since 2018.
The San Diego Padres clinched a playoff spot on September 24 and were locked in to the Wild Card three days later after losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers, ending their division title aspirations.[5][6] It is their third playoff appearance in the past five seasons, all as a wild card entrant.
Matchups
editMilwaukee Brewers vs. TBD
editSeries tied, 0–0.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 1 | TBD at Milwaukee Brewers | American Family Field | - | - |
| 2 | October 2 | TBD at Milwaukee Brewers | American Family Field | - | - |
| 3 | October 3† | TBD at Milwaukee Brewers | American Family Field | - | - |
† If necessary
San Diego Padres vs. TBD
editSeries tied, 0–0.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 1 | TBD at San Diego Padres | Petco Park | - | - |
| 2 | October 2 | TBD at San Diego Padres | Petco Park | - | - |
| 3 | October 3† | TBD at San Diego Padres | Petco Park | - | - |
† If necessary
Milwaukee vs. TBD
editGame 1
edit| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBD | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Milwaukee | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Starting pitchers: TBD: TBD MIL: TBD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 2
edit| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBD | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Milwaukee | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Starting pitchers: TBD: TBD MIL: TBD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
San Diego vs. TBD
editGame 1
edit| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBD | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| San Diego | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Starting pitchers: TBD: TBD SD: TBD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 2
edit| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBD | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| San Diego | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Starting pitchers: TBD: TBD SD: TBD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Foster, Jason (August 1, 2024). "Postseason schedule announced; flexible start date for World Series". MLB.com. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
- ^ Snyder, Matt (August 1, 2024). "MLB releases 2024 playoffs schedule: Dates for every postseason series, plus why the World Series could move". CBS Sports. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
- ^ McCalvy, Adam. "Brewers defy odds to win NL Central, then walk off Phillies". MLB.com. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
- ^ "Milwaukee Brewers fall to Pirates, miss out on chance for 1st-round bye". WTAQ News Talk 97.5 FM · 1360 AM Green Bay, WI. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
- ^ "Padres 4-2 Dodgers (Sep 24, 2024) Game Recap". ESPN. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
- ^ "Dodgers 7-2 Padres (Sep 26, 2024) Game Recap". ESPN. Retrieved September 27, 2024.