Major League Baseball Playoffs

Four teams from each the American and the National Leagues qualify for the playoffs. The three division champs and one wild card (the team with the best record that does not win a division).

Tiebreakers

If there is a tie for any of the divisions or the wild card, there is a one-game playoff the day after the season to determine the team that advances.

If there is a tie for a division and the losing team is assured of winning the wild card, there is no one-game playoff and the team that won the season series is declared the division champion. If the teams split their season series equally, the team with the better record within the division wins the title. If the teams are still tied, the team with the better record in the final half of the season is declared the winner.

Division Series

The first round is the Division Series, which is a best-of-five series. The team with the best overall record gets the top seed and home-field advantage in the playoffs. It hosts Games 1, 2 and 5 in the Division Series round. The team with the second-best record will hosts Games 1, 2 and 5 in its series.

Usually the wild-card team plays the team with the best overall record. However, if those teams are in the same division, then the wild-card team will face the team with the second-best record.

League Championship Series

The victors of the Division Series then move forward to the best-of-seven American League and National League Championship Series. The team with the best record of the remaining teams will have home-field advantage. However, if the wild-card team has the better record than the other qualifying team that is a division champion, the division champion still gets the home-field advantage and would host Games 1, 2, 6, and 7.

World Series

The winners of the ALCS and NLCS move on to the World Series. Home-field advantage in the World Series is determined by the winning league in the All-Star Game. In 2008, the American League won the All-Star Game 4-3, and will therefore have the World Series home-field advantage, hosting games 1, 2, 6, and 7.

L. A. Angels vs. Boston Red Sox
BOS wins series 3-1
Gm 1 BOS 4 LAA 1
Gm 2 BOS 7 LAA 5
Gm 3 LAA 5 BOS 4
Gm 4 BOS 3 LAA 2

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Chicago White Sox
TB wins series 3-1
Gm 1 TB 6 CWS 4
Gm 2 TB 6 CWS 2
Gm 3 CWS 5 TB 3
Gm 4 TB 6 CWS 2

Game 1: at TAM
BOS 2, Tam 0

Game 2: at TAM
TAM 9, BOS 8

Game 3: at BOS
TAM 9, BOS 1

Game 4: at BOS
TAM 13, BOS 4

Game 5: at BOS
BOS 8, TAM 7

Game 6: at TAM
BOS 4, TAM 2

Game 7: at TAM
TAM 3, BOS 1

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Milwaukee Brewers
PHI wins series 3-1
Gm 1 PHI 3 MIL 1
Gm 2 PHI 5 MIL 2
Gm 3 MIL 4 PHI 1
Gm 4 PHI 6 MIL 2

Chicago Cubs vs. L. A. Dodgers
LAD wins seies 3-0
Gm 1 LAD 7 CHC 2
Gm 2 LAD 10 CHC 3
Gm 3 LAD 3 CHC 1

Game 1: at PHI
PHI 3, LAD 2

Game 2: at PHI
PHI 8, LAD 5

Game 3: at LAD
LAD 7, PHI 2

Game 4: at LAD
PHI 7, LAD 5

Game 5: at LAD
PHI 5, LAD 1

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 22
Phil 3, Tampa 2

THURSDAY, OCT. 23
Tampa 4, Phil 2

SATURDAY, OCT. 25
Phil 5, Tampa 4

SUNDAY, OCT. 26
Phil 10, Tampa 2

MONDAY, OCT. 27
Phil 4, Tampa 3

ODDS TO WIN THE 2008 AMERICAN LEAGUE PENNANT
Team----- Open----- Current
Los Angeles Angels 4/1 7/4
Tampa Bay Rays 75/1 2/1
Boston Red Sox 5/2 12/5
Chicago White Sox 28/1 17/2

ODDS TO WIN THE 2008 NATIONAL LEAGUE PENNANT
Team----- Open----- Current
Chicago Cubs 9/2 EVEN
Philadelphia Phillies 6/1 5/2
Milwaukee Brewers 8/1 7/2
Los Angeles Dodgers 10/1 5/1

ODDS TO WIN THE 2008 WORLD SERIES
Team----- Open----- Current
Chicago Cubs 10/1 3/1
Los Angeles Angels 8/1 7/2
Tampa Bay Rays 150/1 4/1
Boston Red Sox 9/2 9/2
Philadelphia Phillies 14/1 7/1
Milwaukee Brewers 18/1 9/1
Los Angeles Dodgers 22/1 12/1
Chicago White Sox 55/1 20/1