LOS ANGELES -- Major League Baseball announced the 2016 postseason schedule on Tuesday, and the National League Division Series will begin on Friday, Oct. 7.
The National League Wild Card Game will be played on Wednesday, Oct. 5 and be televised by ESPN, one day after the American League Wild Card Game on TBS.
Starting the NLDS on Friday allows an NL team to start its Game 1 starter on the final day of the regular season and be ready on regular rest five days later. Heading into their three-game series on Tuesday night in Los Angeles, the Dodgers lead the Giants by one game in the NL West, and San Francisco is in first wild card position, 1½ games ahead of the Cardinals.