Major League Baseball announced Monday that the World Series is scheduled to conclude in October for the second time since 2020, barring any rain delays. The series is slated to begin on Oct. 23, with a potential Game 7 on Oct. 31.
This marks a shift from recent years, as the World Series has extended into November in 2021, 2022, 2023, and is scheduled to do so again in 2025. In 2022, the series went as late as Nov. 5.
The AL Division Series will feature an extra scheduled off day between Games 1 and 2. This change allows teams to align their pitching rotations, enabling starters to pitch Games 1 and 4, or Games 2 and 5, with standard four days of rest. The National League Division Series implemented a similar off day last year.
All four best-of-three Wild Card Series are scheduled to take place over consecutive days from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 at the home field of the higher-seeded team.
The expanded 12-team playoff format, initiated in 2022, grants the top two teams in each league first-round byes. The third-seeded team will face the sixth seed, while the fourth seed plays the fifth seed. In these best-of-three series, the higher seed hosts all games.
The best-of-five Division Series will see the top seed face the winner of the 4-vs.-5 matchup, and the second seed play the winner of the 3-vs.-6 series. The Division Series format will retain the traditional structure where the higher seed hosts Games 1 and 2, and, if necessary, Game 5.
Both the AL and NL Division Series are set to commence on Oct. 3. Subsequently, the National League Championship Series will begin on Oct. 11, followed by the American League Championship Series on Oct. 12. Both championship series are best-of-seven matchups. Reporting by the Associated Press.