The 2021 MLB playoffs get underway on Tuesday, as the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees go head to head in the first Wild Card Game.
AS EnglishUpdate: Oct 6th, 2021 23:13 EDT
Jayne Kamin-OnceaUSA TODAY Sports
The Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees kick off the 2021 Major League Baseball playoffs at Fenway Park on Tuesday 5 October, as the postseason returns to its usual, 10-team format after being expanded to 16 in the coronavirus-affected 2020 season.
Wild Card Games begin almost a month of MLB postseason action
The Red Sox and the Yankees face off in the American League Wild Card Game for the right to take on the Tampa Bay Rays, the 2020 World Series runners-up, in the best-of-five AL Division Series.
In the National League, meanwhile, reigning World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers go up against the St Louis Cardinals in MLB’s other Wild Card Game on Wednesday 6 October, with the San Francisco Giants awaiting the winner in the NL Division Series.
Beginning on Thursday 7 October, the Division Series also sees the Houston Astros play the Chicago White Sox in the AL, and the Milwaukee Brewers take on the Atlanta Braves in the NL.
The winners of the Division Series matchups will then meet in the AL League Championship Series, which gets going on Friday 15 October, and the NL League Championship Series, which begins on Saturday 16 October. The LCS is best of seven.
See also:
MLB Wild Card scheduleWho is the most successful team in World Series history?
World Series: 26 October to 3 November
The American League and National League champions then go head to head for the MLB title in the best-of-seven World Series, which is scheduled to start on Tuesday 26 October and, if all seven games are needed, will run until Wednesday 3 November.
Welcome to the next level. #MakeItMajor #Postseason pic.twitter.com/56MravQbb5
— MLB (@MLB) October 4, 2021
What US networks have the rights to the 2021 MLB postseason?
In the United States, the MLB postseason is to be aired on Fox, FS1, TBS, ESPN and MLB Network. Here’s a complete breakdown of which network has the rights to which game:
MLB postseason schedule
Wild Card Series
Tuesday 5 October
Yankees at Red Sox (8pm, ESPN)
Wednesday 6 October
Cardinals at Dodgers (8pm, TBS)
Division Series
Thursday 7 October
Game 1: White Sox at Astros (4pm, FS1)
Game 1: Winner of AL Wild Card Game at Rays (8pm, FS1)
Friday 8 October
Game 2: White Sox at Astros (2pm ET, MLBN)
Game 2: Winner of AL Wild Card Game at Rays (7pm ET, FS1)
Game 1: Winner of NL WC Game at Giants (9:30pm ET, TBS)
Game 1: Braves at Brewers (4:30pm ET, TBS)
Saturday 9 October
Game 2: Winner of NL WC Game at Giants (9pm ET, TBS)
Game 2: Braves at Brewers (5pm ET, TBS)
Sunday 10 October
Game 3: Astros at White Sox (8pm ET, FS1)
Game 3: Rays at Winner of AL Wild Card Game (4pm ET, MLBN)
Monday 11 October
*Game 4: Astros at White Sox (FS1 or MLBN)
*Game 4: Rays at Winner of AL Wild Card Game (FS1 or MLBN)
Game 3: Giants at Winner of NL WC Game (TBS)
Game 3: Brewers at Braves (TBS)
Tuesday 12 October
*Game 4: Giants at Winner of NL WC Game (TBS)
*Game 4: Brewers at Braves (TBS)
Wednesday 13 October
*Game 5: White Sox at Astros (FS1)
*Game 5: Winner of AL Wild Card Game at Rays (FS1)
Thursday 14 October
*Game 5: Winner of NL WC Game at Giants (TBS)
*Game 5: Braves at Brewers (TBS)
AL Championship Series
Game 1: Friday 15 October (Fox)
Game 2: Saturday 16 October (Fox or FS1)
Game 3: Monday 18 October (FS1)
Game 4: Tuesday 19 October (FS1)
*Game 5: Wednesday 20 October (FS1)
*Game 6: Friday 22 October (FS1)
*Game 7: Saturday 23 October (Fox or FS1)
NL Championship Series
Game 1: Saturday 16 October (TBS)
Game 2: Sunday 17 October (TBS)
Game 3: Tuesday 19 October (TBS)
Game 4: Wednesday 20 October (TBS)
*Game 5: Thursday 21 October (TBS)
*Game 6: Saturday 23 October (TBS)
*Game 7: Sunday 24 October (TBS)
World Series
Game 1: Tuesday 26 October (Fox)
Game 2: Wednesday 27 October (Fox)
Game 3: Friday 29 October (Fox)
Game 4: Saturday 30 October (Fox)
*Game 5: Sunday 31 October (Fox)
*Game 6: Tuesday 2 November (Fox)
*Game 7: Wednesday 3 November (Fox)
* If necessary
Full screen
The Dodgers are the defending World Series champions.Michael OwensAFP
What live-TV streaming services can I watch the MLB postseason on?
There are a few live-TV streaming platforms on which you can watch the postseason, although not every service carries all five of the networks that hold the rights.
DirecTV Stream
Price: Up to $85/month
Carries: Fox, FS1, TBS, ESPN and MLB Network
Check out DirecTV Stream
fuboTV
Price: Up to $76/month
Carries: Fox, FS1, ESPN and MLB Network
Check out fuboTV
Hulu + Live TV
Price: $65/month
Carries: Fox, FS1, TBS, ESPN
Check out Hulu + Live TV
Sling TV
Price: Up to $50/month
Carries: Fox, FS1, TBS, ESPN and MLB Network
Check out Sling TV
YouTube TV
Price: $65/month
Carries: Fox, FS1, TBS, ESPN and MLB Network
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