Introduction
The National League Championship Series is a best-of-seven series that determines which team will face the American League champion in the World Series.
Since 2013, nine different franchises have won the NLCS with the Arizona Diamondbacks winning most recently in 2023. Only the Los Angeles Dodgers have multiple NLCS victories in that time.
Here's some basic info about one of the highlights of the Major League Baseball postseason:
When is the 2024 NLCS?
It's impossible to know when the first pitch of the NLCS will fly in advance because it is reliant on how long other playoff series are. Generally the NLCS is in October leading up to the “Fall Classic” aka the World Series.
If the wild card series and division series run long, it can be pushed deeper into October. If they are lopsided and short, we might see the National League Championship Series start sooner.
Whether the National League division series goes four games or seven games, there's still a relatively limited range of dates for the best-of-seven battle for NL supremacy.
The MLB playoffs begin on October 1, and the last possible date for a World Series game is November 2. With that information in mind, a good estimate for the 2024 NLCS dates is October 13-22.
Playoff Format for MLB
The MLB playoffs have changed significantly in recent years.
Before 1995, just four teams participated in a two-round postseason tournament. From 1903-1968, the playoffs were simply a World Series battle between the best team in the AL and NL during the regular season.
For the last 30 years, the league has been slowly adding more teams to the postseason field. Below is a summary of the growth of the MLB playoffs:
- 1995: MLB realigns to three divisions in the AL and NL, adding a division winner to the postseason field, and a 'Wild Card' — the best team in each league that didn't win its division. Now eight teams make the playoffs instead of four.
- 2011: MLB adds another Wild Card team, and now the two Wild Card clubs must play a single game to determine who enters the playoff field.
- 2020: MLB expands to a 16-team playoff field in a pandemic-shortened season. It returned to the format from 2011-2019 in 2021.
- 2022: MLB adds a third Wild Card team and changes the Wild Card game to a best-of-three. Now 12 teams make the postseason each year.
What happened in the last NLCS?
After the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies advanced to the NLCS, they engaged in a seven-game battle. Below is a summary of the results:
- NLCS Game 1: PHI: 5 ARI: 3
- NLCS Game 2: PHI: 10 ARI: 0
- NLCS Game 3: ARI: 2 PHI: 1
- NLCS Game 4: ARI: 6 PHI: 5
- NLCS Game 5: PHI: 6 ARI: 1
- NLCS Game 6: ARI: 5 PHI: 1
- NLCS Game 7: ARI: 4 PHI: 2
Who Has the Best Odds to Win the World Series?
The Los Angeles Dodgers are considered the World Series favorite by betting markets and projection systems like those found at Baseball-Reference and FanGraphs.
The star-studded team has made it to the National League Championship Series five times since 2016. They have one title to show for their efforts (2020).
Los Angeles has been the MLB betting favorite since before the season began and that status has not wavered.
What Other Teams Could Win the World Series?
The two teams that sit directly behind Los Angeles in the MLB odds are the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies.
Before the season, many expected the Atlanta Braves to be one of the favorites, but injuries have decimated the team's roster, and the Philadelphia Phillies secured a significant lead in the NL East — hamstringing Atlanta's chances.
Last season's World Series participants seem unlikely to return to the Fall Classic in 2024. The defending champion Texas Rangers are in the midst of a disappointing season that's seen their offense fall off significantly.
Meanwhile, the Arizona Diamondbacks punched above their weight in 2023, and seem unable to do so again in 2024.
One MLB trend that makes this season different from other recent campaigns is that there is a smaller concentration of favorites than usual.
Traditional powerhouses like the Houston Astros, and Tampa Bay Rays are all falling short of expectations.
Houston's fall in 2024 has been particularly surprising considering the Astros have appeared in every American League Championship Series since 2017.
If any team other than the Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves or Baltimore Orioles won the World Series it would be a significant surprise.
NLCS FAQ
Nick has been fascinated with sports since he was first taken to a Toronto Maple Leafs game back in 1998, and he's written about them professionally since 2014.
Nick has covered baseball and hockey for outlets like The Athletic, Sportsnet, and Yahoo Sports, and his sports betting expertise has grown since its legalization in Ontario in 2022.
Between 2022 and 2023 he worked for a betting startup called NorthStar Bets, and in 2024 he contributed to Oddspedia before joining the Responsible Gambling team.
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Meet our Authors
Paruyr Shahbazyan
Paruyr Shahbazyan began his business career in 2000 as a private entrepreneur. Over thirteen years, he developed a deep understanding for business and leadership, laying a solid foundation for his professional journey.
In 2013, Paruyr stepped into the sports and betting industry as the founder and president of Bookmaker Rating. This online mass media platform, which he led until 2020, focused on providing in-depth analysis and insights in sports betting, earning a reputation for its quality content.
Continuing his innovative approach in 2022, Paruyr co-founded Azuro, a decentralized betting protocol. This venture showcases his dedication to integrating advanced technology in the evolving landscape of sports betting. Through these diverse experiences, Paruyr has continuously influenced and shaped the betting industry, driving new trends and setting high standards.
| Experience | Year |
| Engaged in private entrepreneurship | 2000-2013 |
| Founder and President at Bookmaker Rating, an online platform focused on sports and betting | 2013-2020 |
| Co-founder at Azuro, a decentralized betting protocol | 2022 |
"Innovation in sportsbetting comes from a deep understanding of both technology and the human element of sports."
- Paruyr Shahbazyan, Founder, RG
Principles and Ethics
Paruyr Shahbazyan's core beliefs lie in the power of informed decision-making and integrity in the betting industry. He understands that the foundation of successful betting is not just about odds and predictions, but also about the trust and reliability of the information provided. Paruyr advocates for a betting environment where transparency and knowledge are paramount, ensuring that bettors are well-equipped with accurate data and insights.
Strategic Vision
Paruyr's vision is to revolutionize the sports betting industry through the integration of technology. He sees the future of betting as a blend of traditional sports knowledge with innovative tech solutions, like decentralized protocols, to enhance user experience and fairness. His aim is to create platforms that are not only user-friendly but also uphold the highest standards of ethical betting, contributing to a more responsible and enjoyable betting culture.
Future Perspectives
Looking towards the future, Paruyr envisions a betting landscape that is more inclusive, technologically advanced, and globally connected. He anticipates a significant shift towards more decentralized and transparent betting systems, driven by blockchain technology. Paruyr is committed to being at the forefront of this change, continuously exploring new possibilities and innovations that can redefine what it means to engage in sports betting in a digital world. His focus is on building systems that prioritize user empowerment, fairness, and the global growth of the sports betting community.
Sol Fayerman-Hansen
Sol has over 20 years of experience in writing for diverse industries including sports, gambling, regulation, technology, and startups. As the Editor-in-Chief at RG.org, Sol brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the role, focusing on delivering transparent, evidence-based content grounded in thorough research. Sol's mission is to empower readers to enjoy gambling responsibly and make informed decisions, enhancing their overall experience through insightful and engaging content. Under Sol's leadership, RG.org prioritizes the highest standards of integrity and reliability, ensuring that all information provided is accurate and trustworthy. Sol's dedication to transparency and research-based writing helps create a responsible gambling environment where readers can truly benefit from the content. This commitment to excellence has positioned RG.org as a leading source of information in the gambling industry.
Experience:
- Over 20 years in writing and editing across multiple industries
- Former head of regional innovation at BMO Finanacial Group
- Senior Writer, Online Casino Reports
Cristina Varela Galan
Cristina used to work as a Psychology Assistant in the Bizkaia Pathological and Risky Gamblers Association. She was also part of a research team in Deusto University, specializing in pathological gambling area. While working there, she managed to develop her own project
“Exploring the association between emotional regulation, alexithymia, stressful life events and gambling in adolescent and young adult women”.
Nick Ashbourne
Nick has been fascinated with sports since he was first taken to a Toronto Maple Leafs game back in 1998, and he's written about them professionally since 2014.
Nick has covered baseball and hockey for outlets like The Athletic, Sportsnet, and Yahoo Sports, and his sports betting expertise has grown since its legalization in Ontario in 2022.
Between 2022 and 2023 he worked for a betting startup called NorthStar Bets, and in 2024 he contributed to Oddspedia before joining the Responsible Gambling team.
Sergey Demidov
Sergey has been in sports journalism since 2007 as a reporter, editor, and manager. He has covered the Olympic Games, soccer World Cups, the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, the European championships, the Stanley Cup Finals, IOC events, and many others. Sergey interviewed the sport's greatest athletes, coaches, and executives. Since 2016, he has been an Independent Senior Editor of NHL.com/ru.
Anna Kravtcova
Ph.D. in organizational psychology, an internationally certified psychologist (EuroPsy 2022, Cognitive behavioural therapy of mindfulness 2020, International Society for Emotional Intelligence 2017, Russian Psychological society 2014, American Psychological Association(Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychologist) 2011), speaker of many international conferences (USA, Brazil, Portugal, Czech Republic, Russia, etc.). TEDx speaker.
