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.
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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
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.