The 12 teams in the 2024 MLB postseason are all settled after the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets each clinched spots by splitting the doubleheader they needed Monday to sort out the playoff race in the National League.
Now come the games baseball fans have been waiting to see.
All four best-of-three wild card series begin Tuesday, starting with Game 1 between the Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers in the American League, and every decision and call will be magnified. That goes for the umpires, too.
Though replay was introduced to the game several years ago, it still very much matters to players, managers and fans alike who’s serving as a crew chief for a postseason series, and especially who’s calling balls and strikes for a particular game. Ahead of the start of the wild card round Tuesday, MLB announced the umpires working each series and where they’ll be positioned.
Here’s a rundown of what umpires to expect working games when the 2024 MLB postseason begins Tuesday, what the schedule looks like, and what channel to watch all the action:
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2024 MLB wild card series umpire schedule
Note: Umpires rotate from right field to left and then clockwise around the bases starting at third during an MLB postseason series, so the ump at second base for the opener will be behind the plate for a potential Game 3 in the wild card round.
Detroit Tigers at Houston Astros
Alfonso Marquez (crew chief): Third base for Game 1
Tony Randazzo: Home plate for Game 1
Jordan Baker: First base for Game 1; Home plate for Game 2
Will Little: Second base for Game 1; Home plate for Game 3
Jeremie Rehak: Left field for Game 1
Junior Valentine: Right field for Game 1
Kansas City Royals at Baltimore Orioles
Bill Miller (crew chief): Third base for Game 1
Ryan Additon: Home plate for Game 1
Ben May: First base for Game 1; Home plate for Game 2
Nic Lentz: Second base for Game 1; Home plate for Game 3
David Rackley: Left field for Game 1
Malachi Moore: Right field for Game 1
New York Mets at Milwaukee Brewers
Alan Porter (crew chief): Third base for Game 1
Alex Tosi: Home plate for Game 1
Chris Segal: First base for Game 1; Home plate for Game 2
Vic Carapazza: Second base for Game 1; Home plate for Game 3
Mike Estabrook: Left field for Game 1
Brennan Miller: Right field for Game 1
Atlanta Braves at San Diego Padres
Dan Iassogna (crew chief): Third base for Game 1
Nestor Ceja: Home plate for Game 1
Phil Cuzzi: First base for Game 1; Home plate for Game 2
Jansen Visconti: Second base for Game 1; Home plate for Game 3
Mark Wegner: Left field for Game 1
Erich Bacchus: Right field for Game 1
2024 MLB postseason schedule
Wild Card Series (Best-of-3):
TUESDAY, OCT. 1
Game 1: Tigers at Astros | 2:32 p.m. ET | ABC
Game 1: Royals at Orioles | 4:08 p.m. ET | ESPN2
Game 1: Mets at Brewers | 5:32 p.m. ET | ESPN
Game 1: Braves at Padres | 8:38 p.m. ET | ESPN
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 2:
Game 2: Tigers at Astros | 2:32 p.m. ET | ABC
Game 2: Royals at Orioles | 4:38 p.m. ET | ESPN
Game 2: Mets at Brewers | 7:38 p.m. ET | ESPN
Game 2: Braves at Padres | 8:38 p.m. ET | ESPN2
THURSDAY, OCT. 3 (if necessary)
Game 3: Tigers at Astros | 2:32 p.m. ET | ABC
Game 3: Royals at Orioles | 4:08 p.m. ET | ESPN
Game 3: Braves at Padres | 7:08 p.m. ET |ESPN
Game 3: Mets at Brewers | 8:38 p.m. ET | ESPN2