Go beyond the scoreboard
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The Dodgers began their quest for their first World Series championship in a full-length season since 1988 by taking five days off. They did so last year as well, and the rest was less restorative than rust-causing when the San Diego Padres upset them in the National League Division Series.
The long break for the two top-seeded teams is a product of Major League Baseball increasing playoff qualifiers from four to six teams in each league. This year, the Atlanta Braves are the No. 1 seed in the National League and the Dodgers are No. 2. In the American League, the Baltimore Orioles are No. 1 seed and the Houston Astros are No. 2.
All four best-of-three wild-card series were sweeps that ended Wednesday, providing the winners with two days off before the division series begin Saturday. The Dodgers will face familiar West division foe the Arizona Diamondbacks, the No. 6 seed who came from behind twice to upset the No. 3 seed Milwaukee Brewers.
The Dodgers aren’t as talented as last season’s team that won 111 games. But they have the grit to do what the 2022 team couldn’t: win the ring.
Here’s what you need to know:
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Division series
Two off days are built into the division series schedules, which could be helpful for the Dodgers and Braves, teams whose greatest perceived weakness is a lack of depth in their starting rotations.
Game days for the two NLDS series are the same: Saturday, Oct. 7; Monday, Oct. 9; Wednesday, Oct. 11; and if necessary Thursday, Oct. 12 and Saturday, Oct. 14. All games will be televised on TBS.
The Braves will play the Philadelphia Phillies — who swept the Marlins — while the Dodgers play the Diamondbacks.
The Dodgers will face the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLDS starting Saturday at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers hope to continue their series dominance.
Game days for the two ALDS series are the same: Saturday, Oct. 7; Sunday, Oct. 8; Tuesday, Oct. 10, and if necessary Wednesday, Oct. 11 and Friday, Oct. 12. All games will be televised on Fox or FS1.
The Orioles will play the Rangers — who swept the Tampa Bay Rays — while the Astros will play the Minnesota Twins, who swept the Toronto Blue Jays.
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Division series schedule
Saturday, Oct. 7
Game 1, times PDT
Rangers @ Orioles, 10 a.m., FS1
Twins @ Astros, 1:45 p.m., FS1
Phillies @ Braves, 3 p.m., TBS
Diamondbacks @ Dodgers, 6:20 p.m., TBS
Sunday, Oct. 8
Game 2, times PDT
Rangers @ Orioles, 1 p.m., FS1
Twins @ Astros, 5 p.m., FS1
Monday, Oct. 9
Game 2, times PDT
Phillies @ Braves, 3 p.m., TBS
Diamondbacks @ Dodgers, 6 p.m., TBS
Tuesday, Oct. 10
Game 3, times PDT
Astros @ Twins, 1 p.m., Fox
Orioles @ Rangers, 5 p.m., Fox
The Dodgers won eight of 13 games against the Diamondbacks this season, but that might not mean much when the teams open a best-of-five series on Saturday.
Wednesday, Oct. 11
Game 3, times TBA
Dodgers @ Arizona Diamondbacks, TBS
Atlanta Braves @ Philadelphia Phillies, TBS
Game 4 (if necessary)
Astros @ Twins, Fox/FS1
Orioles @ Rangers, Fox/FS1
Thursday, Oct. 12
Game 4 (if necessary), times TBA
Braves @ Phillies, TBS
Dodgers @ Diamondbacks, TBS
Friday, Oct. 13
Game 5 (if necessary), times TBA
Rangers @ Orioles, Fox/FS1
Twins @ Astros, Fox/FS1
Saturday, Oct. 14
Game 5 (if necessary), times TBA
Phillies @ Braves, TBS
Diamondbacks @ Dodgers, TBS
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Championship series
All NLCS games will be televised on TBS while all ALCS games will be on Fox or FS1. Times are TBD. The higher-seeded teams play Games 1, 2, and if necessary 6 and 7 at home, while the lower seeded teams play Games 3, 4, and if necessary 5 at home.
The ALCS begins with Game 1 Sunday, Oct. 15; Game 2 Monday, Oct. 16; Game 3 Wednesday, Oct. 18; Game 4 Thursday, Oct. 19; and if necessary Game 5 Friday, Oct. 20; Game 6 Sunday, Oct. 22; and Game 7 Monday, Oct. 23.
The NLCS begins with Game 1 Monday, Oct. 16; Game 2 Tuesday, Oct. 17; Game 3 Thursday, Oct. 19; Game 4 Friday, Oct. 20; and if necessary Game 5 Saturday, Oct. 21; Game 6 Monday, Oct. 23; and Game 7 Tuesday, Oct. 24.
With their 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 on Saturday, the Astros now have two championships in six years, this one presumably without the assistance of a trash can.
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World Series
The Fall Classic will be televised on Fox. As with the championship series, the format is 2-3-2 with the higher seed playing host to Games 1 and 2, and if necessary Games 6 and 7.
Game 1 will be played Friday, Oct. 27, giving the American League champion at least three days off after the ALCS and the National League champion at least two days off after the NLCS. If a championship series is won in a sweep, the ALCS winner would have a week off before the World Series begins and the NLCS winner would have six days off.
Game 2 will be played Saturday, Oct. 28, with Game 3 Monday, Oct. 30, Game 4 Tuesday, Oct. 31, and if necessary Game 5 Wednesday, Nov. 1, Game 6 Friday, Nov. 3 and Game 7 Saturday, Nov. 4. All times are TBD.
The Astros, who captured the AL West title on the last day of the regular season, are attempting to become the first team to win back-to-back World Series championships since the New York Yankees won three in a row from 1998-2000.
