The Major League Baseball (MLB) playoffs are a culmination of the hard work, dedication, and talent of the top teams in the league. After a grueling 162-game regular season, the best teams compete in a series of matches to determine the ultimate champion. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2023 MLB playoff schedule, including the World Series dates, how to watch, and the TV channels broadcasting the games.
The Road to the World Series
The MLB playoffs kick off in October, marking the beginning of the most exciting time for baseball fans. The top 12 teams, after the regular season, advance to the playoffs. The format includes four series: starting with the Wild Card Series, introduced in 2023, and culminating in the much-anticipated World Series Championship.
Teams in the Spotlight
The teams that have secured their spots in the 2023 MLB playoffs are a mix of division winners and wild card teams. In the American League, the division winners include the Baltimore Orioles (AL East), Houston Astros (AL West), and Minnesota Twins (AL Central). The wild card teams from the American League are the Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, and Toronto Blue Jays.
On the National League side, the division winners are the Atlanta Braves (NL East), Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West), and Milwaukee Brewers (NL Central). The wild card teams from the National League include the Philadelphia Phillies, Miami Marlins, and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Key Dates and Matchups
The Wild Card Series, which is a new addition in 2023, takes place from October 3-5. In this series, wild card teams from both leagues compete in a three-game series. The games will be available on ABC, ESPN, or ESPN2.
The Division Series follows, spanning from October 7-14. These games can be watched on FOX, FS1, or TBS. The League Championship Series, determining the champions of both the American and National Leagues, runs from October 15-24. These games are available on Fox, FS1, or TBS.
The grand finale, the World Series, begins on October 27. All World Series games will be broadcasted on FOX.
2023 MLB World Series schedule
- Game 1: Friday, October 27, on FOX
- Game 2: Saturday, October 28, on FOX
- Game 3: Monday, October 30, on FOX
- Game 4: Tuesday, October 31, on FOX
- Game 5: Wednesday, November 1, on FOX
- Game 6: Friday, November 3, on FOX
- Game 7: Saturday, November 4, on FOX
TV channels and streaming options for the 2023 MLB playoffs:
- AL Wild-Card Series: ESPN
- NL Wild-Card Series: ESPN
- AL Divisional Series: FOX, FS1
- NL Divisional Series: TBS
- AL Championship Series: FOX, FS1
- NL Championship Series: TBS
- World Series: FOX
All World Series games will be broadcast on FOX. The ALCS will be aired on FOX and FS1, while the NLCS will be aired on TBS. ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC will carry each of the Wild Card Series games. MLB Network will also air some playoff games.For streaming options, Sling TV, FuboTV, and DirecTV offer live TV streaming subscriptions that include the channels airing the MLB playoffs. All games on FOX and FS1 will be streaming on fuboTV. ESPN app, TBS app, Fox Sports app, and FuboTV are some of the streaming options available.