The 2023 MLB Playoffs get underway on October 3, 2023, as 12 teams will battle it out for a World Series title.

Continue reading for all you need to know about the MLB Playoffs, including 2023 schedule, dates, playoff picture, odds, and more.

2023 MLB Playoffs Schedule

Wild Card Series: October 3rd - 5th 
Division Series: October 7th - October 14th 
Championship Series: October 15th - October 24th
World Series: October 27th - November 4th

How many teams are in the MLB Playoffs?

The 2023 MLB playoffs will feature a total of 12 teams. Every division winner will receive an automatic bid which makes up six teams, and then three Wild Card teams will clinch a spot from each league. 

What is the MLB Playoffs format?

The playoff bracket for the MLB playoffs has been a little different over the past few years. Below we have explained the format for the playoffs this season:

Wild-Card Series: Best of 3 Games 

- Format: HHH 

- All 3 Games will be hosted by the higher seed

AL

- #4 Seed vs. #5 Seed 
- #3 Seed vs. #6 Seed

NL

- #4 Seed vs. #5 Seed 
- #3 Seed vs. #6 Seed

Division Series: Best of 5 Games:

- Format: HH-AA-H

- Games 1, 2, and 5 will be hosted by the team with the higher seed 
- Games 3 and 4 will be hosted by the team with the lower seed

AL

- #1 Seed vs. #4 Seed or #5 Seed 
- #2 Seed vs. #3 Seed or #6 Seed

NL

- #1 Seed vs. #4 Seed or #5 Seed 
- #2 Seed vs. #3 Seed or #6 Seed

Championship Series: Best of 7 Games

- Format: HH-AAA-HH

- Games 1, 2, 6, and 7 will be hosted by the team with the higher seed 
- Games 3, 4, and 5 will be hosted by the team with the lower seed

AL

- #1 Seed or #4 Seed or #5 Seed vs. #2 Seed or #3 Seed or #6 Seed

NL

- #1 Seed or #4 Seed or #5 Seed vs. #2 Seed or #3 Seed or #6 Seed

World Series: Best of 7 Games

- Format: HH-AAA-HH

- Games 1, 2, 6, and 7 will be hosted by the team with the higher seed or the better record if the same seed
- Games 3, 4, and 5 will be hosted by the team with the lower seed or the worst record

- Winner of AL Championship Series vs. Winner of NL Championship Series

2023 MLB Playoff Picture

Below is a look at the current teams who occupy a playoff spot (as of September 9), plus a few teams that are in the mix:

AL Playoff Picture:

AL Division Leaders

1. Baltimore Orioles: 94-56 (Leading AL East) 
2. Houston Astros: 84-67 (Leading AL West) 
3. Minnesota Twins: 79-72 (Leading AL Central)

AL Wild Card Race

4. Tampa Bay Rays: 92-59 (9.5 games ahead) 
5. Toronto Blue Jays: 83-67 (1 game ahead) 
t-6. Texas Rangers: 82-68
t-6. Seattle Mariners: 82-68

In the Hunt:

7. New York Yankees: 49-42 (6 GB of Texas/Seattle) 
8. Boston Red Sox: 48-43 (7.5 GB of Texas/Seattle)

NL Playoff Picture:

NL Division Leaders 

1. Atlanta Braves: 96-54 (Leading NL East) 
2. Los Angeles Dodgers: 92-57 (Leading NL West) 
3. Milwaukee Brewers: 84-66 (Leading NL Central) 

NL Wild Card Race 

4. Philadelphia Phillies: 82-68 (4 games ahead) 
5. Arizona Diamondbacks: 79-72 (0.5 games ahead) 
t-6. Chicago Cubs: 78-72
t-6. Cincinnati Reds: 79-73

In the Hunt 

7. Miami Marlins 78-73 (0.5 GB of Cubs/Reds) 
8. San Francisco Giants: 76-74 (2 GB of Cubs/Reds)

Most Successful MLB Playoff Teams

Below we have listed the most successful MLB teams in playoff history, including World Series titles, playoff wins, and playoff appearances:

World Series Titles:

Rank	Team	Number of Titles	Most Recent
1.	New York Yankees	27	2009
2.	St. Louis Cardinals	11	2013
3=	Oakland Athletics	9	1990
3=	Boston Red Sox	9	2018

Playoff Wins:

Rank	Team	Number of Wins	All-Time Playoff Record
1.	New York Yankees	241 wins	241-172 (.582)
2.	St. Louis Cardinals	145 wins	145-135 (.518)
3.	Los Angeles Dodgers	107 wins	107-119 (.473)

Playoff Appearances:

Rank	Team	Playoff Appearances	Most Recent Postseason Appearance
1.	New York Yankees	58	2022
2.	Los Angeles Dodgers	36	2022
3.	St. Louis Cardinals	32	2022

Who are the favorites to win the 2023 World Series?

Below are the odds for the top five favorites to win the World Series this Fall:

- Atlanta Braves +260
- Los Angeles Dodgers +375
- Baltimore Orioles +600
- Houston Astros +700
- Tampa Bay Rays +750

Odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.