MLB playoff bracket 2021: Full schedule, TV channels, scores for AL and NL games
There have been some seasons where the playoff picture is set well before Game 162. The final day of the season is often just a chance to rest some key pitchers and players ahead of the postseason. That was not the case in 2021.
Neither the AL wild card nor the NL West division races were concluced until Sunday, when the Red Sox and Yankees won to clinch the two spots in the American League, while the Giants won to earn the top seed and division crown in the NL West over the Dodgers.
The Blue Jays and Dodgers both won on Sunday as well, meaning that the Red Sox, Yankees and Giants needed to win to maintain their positions heading into the playoffs.
MORE: Watch select MLB games live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
Sporting News will be tracking scores in the key games on Sunday and providing updates from each of the matchups.
MORE: Game 162 clinching scenarios for Yankees, Red Sox, more
MLB playoff bracket 2021
Here’s a complete look at the 2021 MLB playoff bracket.
National League
Wild card
| Date | Game | Start time | TV channel | Result |
| Wednesday, Oct. 6 | Cardinals @ Dodgers | 8:10 p.m. ET | TBS | — |
Division Series
TBS will handle the broadcast for all NLDS games in both series.
| Date | Game | Start time | TV channel | Result |
| Friday, Oct. 8 | TBD @ Giants, Game 1 | TBD | TBS | — |
| Friday, Oct. 8 | Braves @ Brewers, Game 1 | TBD | TBS | — |
| Saturday, Oct. 9 | TBD @ Giants, Game 2 | TBD | TBS | — |
| Saturday, Oct. 9 | Braves @ Brewers, Game 2 | TBD | TBS | — |
| Monday, Oct. 11 | Giants @ TBD, Game 3 | TBD | TBS | — |
| Monday, Oct. 11 | Brewers @ Braves, Game 3 | TBD | TBS | — |
| Tuesday, Oct. 12 | Giants @ TBD, Game 4* | TBD | TBS | — |
| Tuesday, Oct. 12 | Brewers @ Braves, Game 4* | TBD | TBS | — |
| Thursday, Oct. 14 | TBD @ Giants, Game 5* | TBD | TBS | — |
| Thursday, Oct. 14 | Braves @ Brewers, Game 5* | TBD | TBS | — |
*If necessary
Championship Series
TBS will continue its National League playoff coverage with coverage of every NLCS game.
| Date | Game | Start time | TV channel | Result |
| Saturday, Oct. 16 | TBD @ TBD, Game 1 | TBD | TBS | — |
| Sunday, Oct. 17 | TBD @ TBD, Game 2 | TBD | TBS | — |
| Tuesday, Oct. 19 | TBD @ TBD, Game 3 | TBD | TBS | — |
| Wednesday, Oct. 20 | TBD @ TBD, Game 4 | TBD | TBS | — |
| Thursday, Oct. 21 | TBD @ TBD, Game 5* | TBD | TBS | — |
| Saturday, Oct. 23 | TBD @ TBD, Game 6* | TBD | TBS | — |
| Sunday, Oct. 24 | TBD @ TBD, Game 7* | TBD | TBS | — |
*If necessary
American League
Wild card
| Date | Game | Start time | TV channel | Result |
| Tuesday, Oct. 5 | Yankees @ Red Sox | 8:08 p.m. ET | ESPN | — |
Division Series
MLB Network and FS1 will carry all the ALDS games, until potential Game 5s, which would be broadcast exclusively on FS1.
| Date | Game | Start time | TV channel | Result |
| Thursday, Oct. 7 | TBD @ Rays, Game 1 | TBD | MLB Network/FS1 | — |
| Thursday, Oct. 7 | White Sox @ Astros, Game 1 | TBD | MLB Network/FS1 | — |
| Friday, Oct. 8 | TBD @ Rays, Game 2 | TBD | MLB Network/FS1 | — |
| Friday, Oct. 8 | White Sox @ Astros, Game 2 | TBD | MLB Network/FS1 | — |
| Sunday, Oct. 10 | Rays @ TBD, Game 3 | TBD | MLB Network/FS1 | — |
| Sunday, Oct. 10 | Astros @ White Sox, Game 3 | TBD | MLB Network/FS1 | — |
| Monday, Oct. 11 | Rays @ TBD, Game 4* | TBD | MLB Network/FS1 | — |
| Monday, Oct. 11 | Astros @ White Sox, Game 4* | TBD | MLB Network/FS1 | — |
| Wednesday, Oct. 13 | TBD @ Rays, Game 5* | TBD | FS1 | — |
| Wednesday, Oct. 13 | White Sox @ Astros, Game 5* | TBD | FS1 | — |
*If necessary
Championship Series
FOX and FS1 will split coverage of the ALCS.
| Date | Game | Start time | TV channel | Result |
| Friday, Oct. 15 | TBD @ TBD, Game 1 | TBD | FOX | — |
| Saturday, Oct. 16 | TBD @ TBD, Game 2 | TBD | FOX | — |
| Monday, Oct. 18 | TBD @ TBD, Game 3 | TBD | FOX/FS1 | — |
| Tuesday, Oct. 19 | TBD @ TBD, Game 4 | TBD | FS1 | — |
| Wednesday, Oct. 20 | TBD @ TBD, Game 5* | TBD | FS1 | — |
| Friday, Oct. 22 | TBD @ TBD, Game 6* | TBD | FS1 | — |
| Saturday, Oct. 23 | TBD @ TBD, Game 7* | TBD | FOX/FS1 | — |
*If necessary
World Series schedule
Every World Series game will be on FOX.
| Date | Game | Start time | TV channel | Result |
| Tuesday, Oct. 26 | TBD @ TBD, Game 1 | TBD | FOX | — |
| Wednesday, Oct. 27 | TBD @ TBD, Game 2 | TBD | FOX | — |
| Friday, Oct. 29 | TBD @ TBD, Game 3 | TBD | FOX | — |
| Saturday, Oct. 30 | TBD @ TBD, Game 4 | TBD | FOX | — |
| Sunday, Oct. 31 | TBD @ TBD, Game 5* | TBD | FOX | — |
| Tuesday, Nov. 2 | TBD @ TBD, Game 6* | TBD | FOX | — |
| Wednesday, Nov. 3 | TBD @ TBD, Game 7* | TBD | FOX | — |
*If necessary
Live MLB scores, updates from Game 162
Red Sox vs. Nationals
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| Red Sox | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 0 |
| Nationals | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 1 |
The Red Sox clinch the top wild card spot, and will host the Yankees on Tuesday.
Rays vs. Yankees
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| Rays | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Yankees | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
The Yankees clinch a wild card spot with the win.
Angels vs. Mariners
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| Angels | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 0 |
| Mariners | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 2 |
Orioles vs. Blue Jays
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| Orioles | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 0 |
| Blue Jays | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 12 | 12 | 1 |
Padres vs. Giants
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| Padres | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
| Giants | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | X | 11 | 10 | 0 |
The Giants have won the NL West and clinched the No. 1 seed in the National League.
Brewers vs. Dodgers
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| Brewers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| Dodgers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 3 | X | 10 | 10 | 1 |