ALDS 2024 schedule, who the Guardians will play in MLB playoffs, series format

By besting their rivals in the AL Central Division and earning the No. 2 seed in the American League, the Cleveland Guardians punched their ticket to the ALDS in the 2024 MLB playoffs.

As such, the Guardians avoid having to compete in the Wild Card round and can get some much-needed rest after the 162-game grind that is the MLB regular season.

Who (and when) they play, however, has yet to be decided.

Before the Guardians take the field in the 2024 ALDS, here's a primer for fans on the series format, schedule and more.

Who do the Guardians play in 2024 ALDS of MLB playoffs?

Thanks to winning their division, the Guardians can kick back and prepare to take on their ALDS matchup, which will be either the Detroit Tigers or Houston Astros.

Whichever team wins their best-of-three Wild Card round matchup moves on to face Cleveland.

Is the ALDS best of 5 or 7? What is the ALDS number of games?

Unlike the ALCS and World Series, the ALDS is a best-of-five series.

The first team to win three games will advance to the ALCS. In the case of the Guardians (if they win), they'll move forward to face the winner of the ALDS series between the New York Yankees and whoever wins the Wild Card round between the Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals.

What is the ALDS home/away format?

The best-of-five ALDS will have a 2-2-1 home/away format. MLB has followed this format since 1998.

The higher seeded team will play at home for Games 1 and 2 of the series, while the lower seeded team plays at home for Games 3 and 4 (if necessary).

If the teams are deadlocked at two wins apiece heading to a win-and-advance Game 5, the teams return to the home of the higher seeded team.

What is the MLB Wild Card schedule?

The AL Wild Card between the Tigers and Astros begins with Game 1 Tuesday, Oct. 1. First pitch is scheduled for 2:32 p.m. ET and televised on ABC.

Detroit and Houston play Game 2 Wednesday, Oct. 2 at the same time on ABC.

An if-necessary Game 3 would be played Thursday, Oct. 3.

What time is ALDS Game 1 for the Guardians? ALDS schedule 2024

The Guardians will have their first ALDS game on Saturday, Oct. 5.

The game will be televised on TBS, but at the time of writing the schedule of first pitch is still to be determined.

Game 2 is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 7. Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 9. Game 4 (if necessary) is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 10, and a do-or-die Game 5 would take place on Saturday, Oct. 12, if necessary.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: ALDS 2024 schedule, who the Guardians will play in MLB playoffs, series format