Who do the Dodgers play next? Explaining NLCS opponent in 2024 MLB playoff bracket

Bryan Murphy

Who do the Dodgers play next? Explaining NLCS opponent in 2024 MLB playoff bracket image

The Dodgers and Padres faced a simple dichotomy Friday night — win and advance, or lose and go home. 

San Diego and Los Angeles delivered an enthralling NLDS series in the 2024 MLB playoffs. The two NL West foes split the first two games of the best-of-five series, with the Dodgers avoiding elimination Wednesday with a 8-0 thumping of the Padres to keep their World Series hopes alive.

Opposing the NL West division winners is a San Diego club that has been the best team in baseball since the All-Star break. Powered by the bats of Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., the Padres were aiming to end the Dodgers' season for the second time in three seasons.

Los Angeles, though, bucked its recent trend of early playoff exits. The Dodgers spent over a billion dollars in free agency, landing two-way star Shohei Ohtani and winning the Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes — and while Ohtani didn't deliver Friday, Yamamoto did.

Who is up next for the Dodgers? The Sporting News explains the opponent for the NLCS.

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Who do the Dodgers play next?

The Dodgers will face the New York Mets in the 2024 NLCS. 

The Mets advanced to their first league championship series since 2015 by knocking off the Phillies in four games in their NLDS series. After splitting the first two games, New York won both games in Queens, eliminating their NL East rivals. 

During the regular season, the Mets went 2-4 against the Dodgers in 2024. Los Angeles posted a record of 98-64, winning the NL West for the third year in a row and 11th time in the last 12 years. 

MORE: Explaining the beef between the Padres, MLB reporter Ken Rosenthal

When does the NLCS start?

Game 1 of the NLCS will take place Sunday, Oct. 13. 

Since the Mets needed just four games to knock off the Phillies, New York gets three days off before the next round begins, allowing Carlos Mendoza the option to rest his bullpen and reset his starting rotation. 

The Dodgers have just one off day between the two series, but they won't have to travel before the NLCS.

MLB playoff schedule, results 2024

Wild Card Series scores

Tuesday, Oct. 1

Scores
Game 1: Tigers 3, Astros 1
Game 1: Royals 1, Orioles 0
Game 1: Mets 8, Brewers 4 
Game 1: Padres 4, Braves 0

Wednesday, Oct. 2

Scores
Game 2: Tigers 5, Astros 2 (Tigers advance)
Game 2: Royals 2, Orioles 1 (Royals advance)
Game 2: Brewers 5, Mets 3
Game 2: Padres 5, Braves 4 (Padres advance)

Thursday, Oct. 3

Scores
Game 3: Mets 4, Brewers 2 (Mets advance)

MORE: Sporting News predicts the 2024 MLB postseason

Division Series schedule, scores

Saturday, Oct. 5

Scores
Game 1: Guardians 7, Tigers 0
Game 1: Mets 6, Phillies 2
Game 1: Yankees 6, Royals 5
Game 1: Dodgers 7, Padres 5

Sunday, Oct. 6

Scores
Game 2: Phillies 7, Mets 6
Game 2: Padres 10, Dodgers 2

Monday, Oct. 7

Scores
Game 2: Tigers 3, Guardians 0
Game 2: Royals 4, Yankees 2

Tuesday, Oct. 8

Scores
Game 3: Mets 7, Phillies 2
Game 3: Padres 6, Dodgers 5

Wednesday, Oct. 9

Game
Game 3: Tigers 3, Guardians 0
Game 4: Mets 4, Phillies 1
Game 3: Yankees 3, Royals 2
Game 4: Dodgers 8, Padres 0

Thursday, Oct. 10

Game
Game 4: Guardians 5, Tigers 4
Game 4: Yankees 3, Royals 1

Friday, Oct. 11

Game
Game 5: Dodgers 2, Padres 0

Saturday, Oct. 12

GameTime (ET)TV/Live stream
Game 5: Guardians vs. Tigers1:08 p.m.TBS, Sling

League Championship Series schedule

Sunday, Oct. 13

GameTime (ET)TV/Live stream
Game 1: Mets vs. Dodgers8:15 p.m.Fox/FS1, Fubo

Monday, Oct. 14

GameTime (ET)TV/Live stream
Game 1: Yankees vs. Guardians/Tigers7:37 p.m.TBS, truTV, Sling
Game 2: Mets vs. Dodgers4:08 p.m.Fox/FS1, Fubo

Tuesday, Oct. 15

GameTime (ET)TV/Live stream
Game 2: Yankees vs. Guardians/Tigers7:37 p.m.TBS, truTV, Sling

Wednesday, Oct. 16

GameTime (ET)TV/Live stream
Game 3: Mets vs. Dodgers8:08 p.m.Fox/FS1, Fubo

Thursday, Oct. 17

GameTime (ET)TV/Live stream
Game 3: Yankees vs. Guardians/TigersTBDTBS, truTV, Sling
Game 4: Mets vs. DodgersTBDFox/FS1, Fubo

Friday, Oct. 18

GameTime (ET)TV/Live stream
Game 4: Yankees vs. Guardians/TigersTBDTBS, truTV, Sling
Game 5*: Mets vs. DodgersTBDFox/FS1, Fubo

* - if necessary

Saturday, Oct. 19

GameTime (ET)TV/Live stream
Game 5*: Yankees vs. Guardians/TigersTBDTBS, truTV, Sling

* - if necessary

Sunday, Oct. 20

GameTime (ET)TV/Live stream
Game 6*: Mets vs. DodgersTBDFox/FS1, Fubo

* - if necessary

Monday, Oct. 21

GameTime (ET)TV/Live stream
Game 6*: Yankees vs. Guardians/TigersTBDTBS, truTV, Sling
Game 7*: Mets vs. DodgersTBDFox/FS1, Fubo

* - if necessary

Tuesday, Oct. 22

GameTime (ET)TV/Live stream
Game 7*: Yankees vs. Guardians/TigersTBDTBS, truTV, Sling

* - if necessary

World Series schedule

The World Series could move up to an earlier start if both LCS finish by Oct. 19. If that happens, the World Series will begin Oct. 22 with a potential Game 7 set for Oct. 30. 

Friday, Oct. 25

GameTime (ET)TV/Live stream
Game 1: AL vs. NL (at better record)TBDFox, Fubo

Saturday, Oct. 26

GameTime (ET)TV/Live stream
Game 2: AL vs. NLTBDFox, Fubo

Monday, Oct. 28

GameTime (ET)TV/Live stream
Game 3: AL vs. NLTBDFox, Fubo

Tuesday, Oct. 29

GameTime (ET)TV/Live stream
Game 4: AL vs. NLTBDFox, Fubo

Wednesday, Oct. 30

GameTime (ET)TV/Live stream
Game 5*: AL vs. NLTBDFox, Fubo

* - if necessary

Friday, Nov. 1

GameTime (ET)TV/Live stream
Game 6*: AL vs. NLTBDFox, Fubo

* - if necessary

Saturday, Nov. 2

GameTime (ET)TV/Live stream
Game 7*: AL vs. NLTBDFox, Fubo

* - if necessary

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.