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 is not the case in 2021.
The AL wild card has four teams separated by a single game. If the Red Sox and Yankees both win, the craziness is averted and the two rivals will face off in the wild card matchup on Tuesday. However, a loss for either opens up a path for some the Mariners and/or Blue Jays to sneak in and force a play-in game just to reach the wild card game.
MORE: Watch select MLB games live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
And in the National League, the Giants lead the Dodgers in the NL West by a game, but if the Giants lose and the Dodgers win, they will play in a single game to decide who faces the Cardinals in the NL wild card game and who gets to wait and face the winner of the wild card matchup.
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
Live MLB scores, updates from Sunday
Red Sox vs. Nationals
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| Red Sox | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Nationals | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | 0 |
Rays vs. Yankees
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| Rays | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Yankees | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Angels vs. Mariners
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| Angels | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| Mariners | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Orioles vs. Blue Jays
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| Orioles | 0 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Blue Jays | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 6 | 0 |
Padres vs. Giants
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| Padres | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Giants | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 0 |
Brewers vs. Dodgers
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| Brewers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Dodgers | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 1 | 0 |
MLB playoff bracket 2021
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As things stand today, here is how the MLB playoffs would shape up if the season ended today.
Most of the playoff field is locked up. The Rays, Astros and White Sox are locked in as the one through three seeds in the American League. The Brewers and Braves are the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds in the National League, while the Cardinals will visit whichever NL West team doesn’t win the division.
Here’s a complete look at the playoff bracket, heading into the Oct. 3 matchups.
American League
1. Rays vs. 4. Red Sox/Yankees
2. Astros vs. 3. White Sox
National League
1. Giants vs. 4. Dodgers/Cardinals
2. Brewers vs. 3. Braves
MLB playoff schedule 2021
While the playoff field still has yet to be finalized, the schedule for when the games will take place has been set, barring any changes in a potential Game 163. Here’s how the playoff schedule is shaping up.
American League
Wild card
| Date | Game | Start time | TV channel |
| Tuesday, Oct. 5 | XX @ XX | TBD | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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
National League
Wild card
| Date | Game | Start time | TV channel |
| Wednesday, Oct. 6 | Cardinals @ XX | TBD | TBS |
Division Series
TBS will handle the broadcast for all NLDS games in both series.
| Date | Game | Start time | TV channel |
| Friday, Oct. 8 | TBD @ Dodgers/Giants, Game 1 | TBD | TBS |
| Friday, Oct. 8 | Braves @ Brewers, Game 1 | TBD | TBS |
| Saturday, Oct. 9 | TBD @ Dodgers/Giants, Game 2 | TBD | TBS |
| Saturday, Oct. 9 | Braves @ Brewers, Game 2 | TBD | TBS |
| Monday, Oct. 11 | Dodgers/Giants @ TBD, Game 3 | TBD | TBS |
| Monday, Oct. 11 | Brewers @ Braves, Game 3 | TBD | TBS |
| Tuesday, Oct. 12 | Dodgers/Giants @ TBD, Game 4* | TBD | TBS |
| Tuesday, Oct. 12 | Brewers @ Braves, Game 4* | TBD | TBS |
| Thursday, Oct. 14 | TBD @ Dodgers/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 |
| 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
World Series schedule
Every World Series game will be on FOX.
| Date | Game | Start time | TV channel |
| 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
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