The MLB playoffs are underway as the final 8 teams compete in the Division Series for their chance to advance to the Championship Series. Ultimately, there will be only one team that will walk away as the winner of the 117th edition of the World Series. Cord cutters can find out how to watch the 2021 MLB Division Series below.
The Matchups
National League Division Series
There are four teams remaining in the National League that will compete to win 3 games to advance to the next round. Games 4 and 5 will only be played if necessary. The two teams that win their series will advance to the National League Championship Series, with the higher seeds having home-field advantage.
#1 San Francisco Giants vs. #4 Los Angeles Dodgers
The NL West was one of the toughest divisions in baseball all season. The 107-55 Giants squeaked out a division title over the 106-56 Dodgers. After dispatching the Cardinals in the Wildcard Round, the Dodgers have a chance at upsetting the Giants in what is expected to be a tough series between California’s two best clubs.
- Game 1: Dodgers at Giants
- Game 2: Dodgers at Giants
- Game 3: Giants at Dodgers
- *Game 4: Giants at Dodgers
- *Game 5: Dodgers at Giants
#2 Milwaukee Brewers vs. #3 Atlanta Braves
The NL Central and NL East champions will square off on the diamond for a chance to keep their seasons alive. The 95-67 Brewers will have home-field advantage over the 88-73 Braves if the series goes to 5 games. This series will truly be the rubber match between since their regular season series was tied 3-3.
- Game 1: Braves at Brewers
- Game 2: Braves at Brewers
- Game 3: Brewers at Braves
- *Game 4: Brewers at Braves
- *Game 5: Braves at Brewers
American League Division Series
Like the NLDS, there are four American League teams remaining with two teams having a chanced to advance to the American League Championship Series. Games 4 and 5 will be played if necessary, and the higher seeds that advance will have home-field advantage in the ALCS.
#1 Tampa Rays vs. #4 Boston Red Sox
After knocking out the Yankees in the Wildcard Round, the 92-70 Red Sox are in a hole against the kings of the AL East, Rays (100-62). The Sox were shutout in Game 1 and will have to play better if they want to avoid getting swept and dethrone the defending AL Champions.
- Game 1: Rays 5, Red Sox 0 (Rays lead 1-0)
- Game 2: Red Sox at Rays
- Game 3: Rays at Red Sox
- *Game 4: Rays at Red Sox
- *Game 5: Red Sox at Rays
#2 Houston Astros vs. #3 Chicago White Sox
Even after a cheating scandal that rocked the MLB world, the 96-67 Astros are still one of baseball’s best teams. They won the AL West and pulled off a convincing win against a very good White Sox team in Game 1. The White Sox were hands down the best team in the AL Central with a 93-69 record, but their youth and inexperience may cause problems against a veteran Astros team.
- Game 1: Astros 6, White Sox 1 (Astros lead 1-0)
- Game 2: White Sox at Astros
- Game 3: Astros at White Sox
- *Game 4: Astros at White Sox
- *Game 5: White Sox at Astros
MLB Division Series Schedule
The Division Series will be broadcasted across 3 channels. ALDS games will be broadcasted on MLB Network and FS1, with potential Game 5s airing exclusively on FS1. All NLDS games will be broadcasted on TBS.
Friday, Oct. 8
| Game | Time | Channel |
| White Sox at Astros (Game 2) | 2:07 p.m. | MLB Network |
| Braves at Brewers (Game 1) | 4:37 p.m. | TBS |
| Red Sox at Rays (Game 2) | 7:02 p.m. | FS1 |
| Dodgers at Giants (Game 1) | 9:37 p.m. | TBS |
Saturday, Oct. 9
| Game | Time | Channel |
| Braves at Brewers (Game 2) | 5:07 p.m. | TBS |
| Dodgers at Giants (Game 2) | 9:07 p.m. | TBS |
Sunday, Oct. 10
| Game | Time | Channel |
| Rays at Red Sox (Game 3) | 4:07 p.m. | MLB Network |
| Astros at White Sox (Game 3) | 8:07 p.m. | FS1 |
Monday, Oct. 11
| Game | Time | Channel |
| Brewers at Braves (Game 3) | 1:07 p.m. | TBS |
| Astros at White Sox, (Game 4*) | 3:37 p.m. | FS1 |
| Rays at Red Sox (Game 4*) | 7:07 p.m. | FS1 |
| Giants at Dodgers, (Game 3) | 9:37 p.m. | TBS |
Tuesday, Oct. 12
| Game | Time | Channel |
| Brewers at Braves (Game 4*) | 5:07 p.m. | TBS |
| Giants at Dodgers (Game 4*) | 9:07 p.m. | TBS |
Wednesday, Oct. 13
| Game | Time | Channel |
| Red Sox at Rays (Game 5*) | 5:07 p.m. | FS1 |
| White Sox at Astros (Game 5*) | 9:07 p.m. | FS1 |
Thursday, Oct. 14
| Game | Time | Channel |
| Braves at Brewers (Game 5*) | 5:07 p.m. | TBS |
| Dodgers at Giants (Game 5*) | 9:07 p.m. | TBS |
*If necessary.
Where to Watch MLB Division Series
With a loaded playoff schedule consisting of the last 8 MLB teams remaining with a chance to win the World Series, fans have plenty of choices when it comes to watching each game from the opening pitch to the final at-bat.
MLB.tv: For $24.99, the Postseason Package gives fans access to stream select games live on supporting device after authenticating to a participating Pay TV Provider in the U.S. As a bonus, the Postseason Package includes 2022 Spring Training games.
Subscribers to live TV streaming services can check out our chart below to see if your service will be streaming today’s games.
| Channel | DirecTV Stream (*Starts at $69.99/mo.) | fuboTV (*Starts at $64.99/mo.) | Hulu + Live TV (*Starts $64.99/mo.) | Sling TV (*Starts at $35/mo.) | YouTube TV (*Starts at $64.99/mo.) |
| MLBN | Yes | An additional $8/mo with fubo Extra add-on | No | Free until October 15th | Yes |
| FS1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FOX | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TBS | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |