2026 ALCS and NLCS Schedule: Game Times and TV Channels

2026 ALCS and NLCS Schedule: Game Times and TV Channels

MLB's full slate for the 2026 ALCS and NLCS schedule is out, and two of the American League series' start times are still pending the outcome of the National League series. The NLCS opened in Milwaukee on Sunday, Oct. 11, with the Los Angeles Dodgers visiting the Brewers, and the ALCS gets going tonight, Monday, Oct. 12, when the Cleveland Guardians travel to Tampa Bay for a first pitch at 8 p.m. ET (MLB.com, yesterday).

The two best-of-seven series run on overlapping schedules for roughly the next week, and each has its own broadcast partner, Spanish-language outlet and set of potential game dates. The NLCS airs across FOX, FS1, FOX Deportes and FOX One, while the ALCS simulcasts on TNT Sports platforms, TBS, truTV and HBO Max (MLB press release, yesterday). UniMás carries the ALCS in Spanish, according to MLB's full schedule release (MLB.com, yesterday).

As of Monday, Oct. 12, NLCS Game 1 is already in the books; everything else below is still ahead. This guide breaks down both series date by date, covers where to find Spanish-language and radio coverage, and flags the two ALCS times still tied to how the NLCS finishes. All times are Eastern. An asterisk marks a game only played if the series reaches that point; a dagger (†) marks a start time that could still change.

2026 NLCS schedule: game times and TV channels

The Dodgers and Brewers are meeting in the NLCS for the second year in a row (MLB.com, 4 days ago). Games 1 and 2 are in Milwaukee, the series shifts to Los Angeles for Games 3 through 5, and it returns to Milwaukee for Games 6 and 7 if the two teams push it that far.

Game Date Matchup Time (ET) TV 1 Sun, Oct. 11 LAD @ MIL 8 p.m. FOX/FOX Deportes/FOX One 2 Mon, Oct. 12 LAD @ MIL 5 p.m. FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes/FOX One 3 Wed, Oct. 14 MIL @ LAD 8 p.m. FS1/FOX Deportes/FOX One 4 Thu, Oct. 15 MIL @ LAD 9 p.m. FS1/FOX Deportes/FOX One 5* Fri, Oct. 16 MIL @ LAD 9 p.m. FS1/FOX Deportes/FOX One 6* Sun, Oct. 18 LAD @ MIL 8 p.m. FS1/FOX Deportes/FOX One 7* Mon, Oct. 19 LAD @ MIL 8 p.m. FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes/FOX One

*if necessary

(MLB.com, yesterday)

Game 1's broadcast was confirmed on FOX, FOX One and FOX Deportes, without FS1, in MLB's umpire announcement (MLB press release, yesterday). The umpire announcement identifies Game 1 on FOX; MLB's full schedule lists Games 2 and 7 as FOX/FS1 and Games 3 through 6 on FS1 (MLB.com, yesterday). Check local listings if a specific channel number matters.

2026 ALCS schedule: game times and TV channels

The Guardians and Rays open the ALCS tonight in Tampa Bay, with the series moving to Cleveland for Games 3 and 4 and, if necessary, returning to Tampa Bay for Games 6 and 7.

Game Date Matchup Time (ET) TV 1 Mon, Oct. 12 CLE @ TB 8 p.m. TBS/truTV/HBO Max/UniMás 2 Tue, Oct. 13 CLE @ TB 8 p.m. TBS/truTV/HBO Max/UniMás 3 Thu, Oct. 15 TB @ CLE 6 p.m. TBS/truTV/HBO Max/UniMás 4 Fri, Oct. 16 TB @ CLE 6 p.m.† TBS/truTV/HBO Max/UniMás 5* Sat, Oct. 17 TB @ CLE 8 p.m. TBS/truTV/HBO Max/UniMás 6*† Mon, Oct. 19 CLE @ TB 5 p.m.† TBS/truTV/HBO Max/UniMás 7* Tue, Oct. 20 CLE @ TB 8 p.m. TBS/truTV/HBO Max/UniMás

*if necessary †Subject to change based on the NLCS result

(MLB.com, yesterday)

Two of those times, Game 4's 6 p.m. slot and Game 6's 5 p.m. slot, are placeholders rather than final numbers. Both are scheduled early specifically to avoid colliding with NLCS games airing the same night, so if the NL series wraps up ahead of schedule, the AL start times move later. The next section explains exactly what triggers each shift.

How an early NLCS finish changes ALCS start times

ALCS Game 4 is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET on Oct. 16. If the NLCS ends in a sweep, meaning no Game 5 is played, ALCS Game 4 moves to 8 p.m. ET instead (MLB.com, yesterday).

ALCS Game 6 carries a separate condition. It's set for 5 p.m. ET on Oct. 19, but if the NLCS doesn't reach a Game 7, that ALCS game shifts to 8 p.m. ET (MLB.com, yesterday).

Fans circling those two dates should treat the listed times as provisional until the NLCS result is known. MLB's schedule page will show the confirmed ALCS time once the NL series wraps, and that's the place to check before either game airs (MLB.com, yesterday).

2026 ALCS and NLCS TV channels: streaming, Spanish-language and radio coverage

FOX Deportes carries the NLCS in Spanish on television, and UniMás covers the ALCS the same way. TUDN Radio provides Spanish-language audio coverage for both series, so Spanish-speaking fans have separate TV and radio options rather than one combined feed (MLB.com, yesterday).

ESPN Radio broadcasts every 2026 postseason game nationally in English (MLB.com, yesterday). MLB Network adds studio coverage throughout the postseason, including MLB Tonight, MLB Central, MLB Now and Intentional Talk (MLB.com, yesterday).

For streaming, FOX One carries every NLCS game, and HBO Max carries every ALCS game alongside the TBS and truTV broadcasts.

What happens after the LCS round

The NLCS is a rematch of last year's series, with the Dodgers and Brewers meeting for a second straight season (MLB.com, 4 days ago). The ALCS pairs the Guardians against the Rays.

If either series needs the full seven games, the NLCS would wrap Oct. 19 and the ALCS would wrap Oct. 20 (MLB.com, yesterday). Those are maximum dates, not guaranteed ones; either series can end sooner. Whichever teams win advance to the World Series, which opens Friday, Oct. 23, on FOX, FOX Deportes and FOX One (MLB.com, yesterday).

Readers tracking the ALCS should recheck Game 4 and Game 6 start times once the NLCS result is final. Every other time and network listed here is already set.