MLB wild card series schedule: Game times and TV channel

Major League Baseball's best-of-three wild card series begin on Tuesday across the country, with eight teams vying for a spot in the Division Series.

The new postseason format with three wild cards in each league began in 2022, with the top two division winners getting a bye to the LDS. Quadruple-headers are on the schedule for Tuesday and Wednesday, with more potential games set for Thursday if necessary.

The defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers host the late games on the wild card slate, with an American League game getting things underway at 1:08 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

The best-of-five Division Series begin on Saturday, Oct. 4.

Here's the schedule for the 2025 wild card series:

MLB wild card series schedule

Tuesday, Sept. 30

• Tigers at Guardians, Game 1: 1:08 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Padres at Cubs, Game 1: 3:08 p.m. ET, ABC
• Red Sox at Yankees, Game 1, 6:08 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Reds at Dodgers, Game 1: 9:08 p.m. ET, ESPN

Wednesday, Oct. 1

• Tigers at Guardians, Game 1: 1:08 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Padres at Cubs, Game 2: 3:08 p.m. ET, ABC
• Red Sox at Yankees, Game 2: 6:08 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Reds at Dodgers, Game 2: 9:08 p.m. ET, ESPN

Thursday, Oct. 2

(Game 3 schedule subject to change)

• Tigers at Guardians, Game 3: 1:08 p.m. ET, ESPN * if necessary
• Padres at Cubs, Game 3: 3:08 p.m. ET, ABC * if necessary
• Red Sox at Yankees, Game 3: 6:08 p.m. ET, ESPN * if necessary
• Reds at Dodgers, Game 4: 9:08 p.m. ET, ESPN * if necessary