Every MLB Wild Card Series Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday, October 1, but the exact start times depend on how many series are still alive after Wednesday. MLB has published the full set of scenarios: if all four series go the distance, Thursday mirrors Tuesday and Wednesday; if some sweep, the remaining games shift into the best TV windows. Every Thursday game streams on Peacock, and any game moved into an NBC window airs on NBC. The final Thursday schedule will be set Wednesday night once Game 2s are done.
If All Four Series Go to Game 3
| Scenario | Thursday Game 3 schedule (ET) |
|---|---|
| All four series go to Game 3 | Phillies at Braves 2 p.m. (NBC, Peacock); White Sox at Astros 5 p.m. (NBCSN, Peacock); Red Sox at Yankees 8 p.m. (NBC, Peacock); Cubs at Padres 10 p.m. (NBCSN, Peacock) |
If Three Series Are Still Alive
| Scenario | Thursday Game 3 schedule (ET) |
|---|---|
| Phillies vs. Braves is over | White Sox at Astros 2 p.m. (NBC); Red Sox at Yankees 8 p.m. (NBC); Cubs at Padres 10 p.m. (NBCSN) |
| Cubs vs. Padres is over | Phillies at Braves 2 p.m. (NBC); White Sox at Astros 5 p.m. (NBCSN); Red Sox at Yankees 8 p.m. (NBC) |
| Red Sox vs. Yankees is over | Phillies at Braves 2 p.m. (NBC); White Sox at Astros 5 p.m. (NBCSN); Cubs at Padres 8 p.m. (NBCSN) |
| White Sox vs. Astros is over | Phillies at Braves 2 p.m. (NBC); Red Sox at Yankees 8 p.m. (NBC); Cubs at Padres 10 p.m. (NBCSN) |
If Two Series Are Still Alive
| Scenario | Thursday Game 3 schedule (ET) |
|---|---|
| Red Sox vs. Yankees and White Sox vs. Astros are over | Phillies at Braves 2 p.m. (NBC); Cubs at Padres 8 p.m. (NBC) |
| Phillies vs. Braves and Cubs vs. Padres are over | White Sox at Astros 2 p.m. (NBC); Red Sox at Yankees 8 p.m. (NBC) |
| Red Sox vs. Yankees and Phillies vs. Braves are over | White Sox at Astros 2 p.m. (NBC); Cubs at Padres 8 p.m. (NBC) |
| Red Sox vs. Yankees and Cubs vs. Padres are over | White Sox at Astros 2 p.m. (NBC); Phillies at Braves 8 p.m. (NBC) |
| White Sox vs. Astros and Phillies vs. Braves are over | Red Sox at Yankees 7 p.m. (NBC); Cubs at Padres 9:30 p.m. (NBC) |
| White Sox vs. Astros and Cubs vs. Padres are over | Phillies at Braves 2 p.m. (NBC); Red Sox at Yankees 8 p.m. (NBC) |
If Only One Series Is Still Alive
A lone Game 3 is played at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, whichever series it is.
What Happens After Game 3
Winners advance to the Division Series starting Saturday, October 3: the Red Sox or Yankees face the Rays, the White Sox or Astros face the Guardians, the Cubs or Padres face the Brewers, and the Phillies or Braves face the Dodgers. Full dates are on the Division Series schedule.
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Wild Card Series schedule · Wild Card Series odds · Wild Card lineups · What channel is NBCSN
Scenarios are from MLB.com’s Wild Card broadcast schedule.