MLB playoff bracket 2021: Full schedule, TV channels, scores for AL and NL games

Edward Sutelan

MLB playoff bracket 2021: Full schedule, TV channels, scores for AL and NL games image

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 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 the division crown over the Dodgers.

The Blue Jays and Dodgers both won on the final 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 tracked scores in the key games on Oct. 3 and provided updates from each of the matchups.

MORE: MLB playoff power rankings SN's MLB postseason predictions

MLB playoff bracket 2021

MLB-Postseason-101521-MLB

Here's a complete look at the 2021 MLB playoff bracket.

MLB playoff schedule, results

National League

Wild-card game

Date Game Start time TV channel Result
Wed., Oct. 6 Cardinals at Dodgers 8:10 p.m. TBS 3-1, LAD

Division Series

TBS will handle the broadcast for all NLDS games in both series.

Date Game Start time TV channel Result
Fri., Oct. 8 Dodgers at Giants, Game 1 9:37 p.m. TBS 4-0, SF
Fri., Oct. 8 Braves at Brewers, Game 1 4:37 p.m. TBS 2-1, MIL
Sat., Oct. 9 Dodgers at Giants, Game 2 9:07 p.m. TBS 9-2, LAD
Sat., Oct. 9 Braves at Brewers, Game 2 5:07 p.m. TBS 3-0, ATL
Mon., Oct. 11 Giants at Dodgers, Game 3 9:37 p.m. TBS 1-0, SF
Mon., Oct. 11 Brewers at Braves, Game 3 1:07 p.m. TBS 3-0, ATL
Tue., Oct. 12 Giants at Dodgers, Game 4 9:07 p.m. TBS 7-2, LAD
Tue., Oct. 12 Brewers at Braves, Game 4 5:15 p.m. TBS 5-4, ATL
Thu., Oct. 14 Dodgers at Giants, Game 5 9:07 p.m. TBS 2-1, LAD

Championship Series

TBS will continue its National League playoff coverage with coverage of every NLCS game.

Date Game Start time TV channel Result
Sat., Oct. 16 Dodgers at Braves, Game 1 8:07 p.m. TBS 3-2, ATL
Sun., Oct. 17 Dodgers at Braves, Game 2 7:38 p.m. TBS 5-4, ATL
Tue., Oct. 19 Braves at Dodgers, Game 3 5:08 p.m. TBS 6-5, LAD
Wed., Oct. 20 Braves at Dodgers, Game 4 8:08 p.m. TBS 9-2, ATL
Thu., Oct. 21 Braves at Dodgers, Game 5 8:08 p.m. TBS 11-2, LAD
Sat., Oct. 23 Dodgers at Braves, Game 6 8:08 p.m. TBS 4-2, ATL

American League

Wild-card game

Date Game Start time TV channel Result
Tue., Oct. 5 Yankees at Red Sox 8:08 p.m. ESPN 6-2, BOS

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
Thu., Oct. 7 Red Sox at Rays, Game 1 8:07 p.m. FS1 5-0, TB
Thu., Oct. 7 White Sox at Astros, Game 1 4:07 p.m. FS1 6-1, HOU
Fri., Oct. 8 Red Sox at Rays, Game 2 7:02 p.m. FS1 14-6, BOS
Fri., Oct. 8 White Sox at Astros, Game 2 2:07 p.m. MLB Network 9-4, HOU
Sun., Oct. 10 Rays at Red Sox, Game 3 4:07 p.m. MLB Network 6-4 (13), BOS
Sun., Oct. 10 Astros at White Sox, Game 3 8:07 p.m. FS1 12-6, CHI
Mon., Oct. 11 Rays at Red Sox, Game 4 7:07 p.m. FS1 6-5, BOS
Tue., Oct. 12 Astros at White Sox, Game 4 2:07 p.m. FS1 10-1, HOU

Championship Series

Fox and FS1 will split coverage of the ALCS.

Date Game Start time TV channel Result
Fri,, Oct. 15 Red Sox at Astros, Game 1 8:07 p.m. Fox 5-4, HOU
Sat., Oct. 16 Red Sox at Astros, Game 2 8:20 p.m. Fox 9-5, BOS
Mon., Oct. 18 Astros at Red Sox, Game 3 8:07 p.m. Fox/FS1 12-3, BOS
Tue., Oct. 19 Astros at Red Sox, Game 4 8:08 p.m. FS1 9-2, HOU
Wed., Oct. 20 Astros at Red Sox, Game 5 5:08 p.m. FS1 9-1, HOU
Fri., Oct. 22 Red Sox at Astros, Game 6 8:08 p.m. FS1 5-0, HOU

World Series schedule

Every World Series game will be on Fox.

Date Game Start time TV channel Result
Tue., Oct. 26 Braves at Astros, Game 1 8:09 p.m. Fox 6-2, ATL
Wed., Oct. 27 Braves at Astros, Game 2 8:09 p.m. Fox 7-2, ATL
Fri., Oct. 29 Astros at Braves, Game 3 8:09 p.m. Fox 2-0, ATL
Sat., Oct. 30 Astros at Braves, Game 4 8:09 p.m. Fox 3-2, ATL
Sun., Oct. 31 Astros at Braves, Game 5 8:15 p.m. Fox 9-5, HOU
Tue., Nov. 2 Braves at Astros, Game 6 8:09 p.m. Fox 7-0, ATL

*If necessary. 

Edward Sutelan

Edward Sutelan Photo

Edward Sutelan joined The Sporting News in 2021 after covering high school sports for PennLive. Edward graduated from The Ohio State University in 2019, where he gained experience covering the baseball, football and basketball teams. Edward also spent time working for The Columbus Dispatch and Cape Cod Times.