The Dodgers and Padres faced a simple dichotomy Friday night: win and advance, or lose and go home.

San Diego and Los Angeles played an exciting NLDS series in the 2024 MLB playoffs. The two NL West opponents split the first two games of the best-of-five series, with the Dodgers avoiding elimination with an 8-0 win over the Padres on Wednesday to keep their World Series hopes alive.

The winner of the NL West Division will face a club from San Diego that has been the best team in baseball since the All-Star break. Powered by the bats of Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., the Padres looked to end the Dodgers' season for the second time in three seasons.

However, Los Angeles bucked the recent trend of early playoff exits. The Dodgers spent over a billion dollars in free agency, acquired two-way star Shohei Ohtani and won the Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes — and while Ohtani didn't deliver on Friday, Yamamoto did.

Who's next for the Dodgers? The Sporting News declares the opponent for the NLCS.

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Who will the Dodgers play next?

The Dodgers will face the New York Mets in the 2024 NLCS.

The Mets reached their first championship series since 2015 by defeating the Phillies in their NLDS series in four games. After splitting the first two games, New York won both games in Queens, eliminating their NL East rivals.

During the regular season, the 2024 Mets lost 4-2 to the Dodgers. Los Angeles posted a 98-64 record and won the NL West for the third straight year and 11th time in the last 12 years.

MORE: Explains the conflict between the Padres, MLB reporter Ken Rosenthal

When does the NLCS start?

Game 1 of the NLCS will take place on Sunday, October 13th.

Since the Mets only needed four games to beat the Phillies, New York has three days off before the next round begins, giving Carlos Mendoza a chance to rest his bullpen and reset his starting rotation.

The Dodgers only have one day off between the two series but do not have to travel before the NLCS.

MLB playoff schedule, 2024 results

Wild Card Series Results

Tuesday, October 1st

Scores

Game 1: Tigers 3Astros 1

Game 1: Royals 1Orioles 0

Game 1: Mets 8Brewer 4

Game 1: Padres 4Braves 0

Wednesday, October 2nd

Scores

Game 2: Tigers 5Astros 2 (Tigers Advance)

Game 2: Royals 2Orioles 1 (Royals advance)

Game 2: Brewer 5Mets 3

Game 2: Padres 5Braves 4 (Padres advance)

Thursday, October 3rd

Scores

Game 3: Mets 4Brewers 2 (Mets advance)

MORE: Sporting News predicts 2024 MLB postseason

Division Series schedule, results

Saturday, October 5th

Scores

Game 1: Guardian 7Tigers 0

Game 1: Mets 6Phillies 2

Game 1: Yankees 6Royals 5

Game 1: Dodgers 7Padres 5

Sunday, October 6th

Scores

Game 2: Phillies 7Mets 6

Game 2: Father 10Dodgers 2

Monday, October 7th

Scores

Game 2: Tigers 3Guardian 0

Game 2: Royals 4Yankees 2

Tuesday, October 8th

Scores

Game 3: Mets 7, Phillies 2

Game 3: Padres 6, Dodgers 5

Wednesday, October 9th

Game

Game 3: Tigers 3Guardian 0

Game 4: Mets 4, Phillies 1

Game 3: Yankees 3, Royals 2

Game 4: Dodgers 8, Padres 0

Thursday, October 10th

Game

Game 4: Guardian 5, Tigers 4

Game 4: Yankees 3, Royals 1

Friday, October 11th

Game

Game 5: Dodgers 2Padres 0

Saturday, October 12th

Game	Time (ET)	TV/live stream
Game 5: Guardians vs. Tigers	1:08 p.m	TBS, sling

League Championship Series schedule

Sunday, October 13th

Game	Time (ET)	TV/live stream
Game 1: Mets vs. Dodgers	Still open	Fox/FS1, Fubo

Monday, October 14th

Game	Time (ET)	TV/live stream
Game 1: Yankees vs. Guardians/Tigers	Still open	TBS, truTV, Sling
Game 2: Mets vs. Dodgers	Still open	Fox/FS1, Fubo

Tuesday, October 15th

Game	Time (ET)	TV/live stream
Game 2: Yankees vs. Guardians/Tigers	Still open	TBS, truTV, Sling

Wednesday, October 16th

Game	Time (ET)	TV/live stream
Game 3: Mets vs. Dodgers	Still open	Fox/FS1, Fubo

Thursday, October 17th

Game	Time (ET)	TV/live stream
Game 3: Yankees vs. Guardians/Tigers	Still open	TBS, truTV, Sling
Game 4: Mets vs. Dodgers	Still open	Fox/FS1, Fubo

Friday, October 18th

Game	Time (ET)	TV/live stream
Game 4: Yankees vs. Guardians/Tigers	Still open	TBS, truTV, Sling
Game 5*: Mets vs. Dodgers	Still open	Fox/FS1, Fubo

* – if required

Saturday, October 19th

Game	Time (ET)	TV/live stream
Game 5*: Yankees vs. Guardians/Tigers	Still open	TBS, truTV, Sling

* – if required

Sunday, October 20th

Game	Time (ET)	TV/live stream
Game 6*: Mets vs. Dodgers	Still open	Fox/FS1, Fubo

* – if required

Monday, October 21st

Game	Time (ET)	TV/live stream
Game 6*: Yankees vs. Guardians/Tigers	Still open	TBS, truTV, Sling
Game 7*: Mets vs. Dodgers	Still open	Fox/FS1, Fubo

* – if required

Tuesday, October 22nd

Game	Time (ET)	TV/live stream
Game 7*: Yankees vs. Guardians/Tigers	Still open	TBS, truTV, Sling

* – if required

World Series schedule

The World Series could start sooner if both LCSs end by October 19th. In this case, the World Series begins on October 22nd, with Game 7 possibly scheduled for October 30th.

Friday, October 25th

Game	Time (ET)	TV/live stream
Game 1: AL vs. NL (with better record)	Still open	Fox, Fubo

Saturday, October 26th

Game	Time (ET)	TV/live stream
Game 2: AL vs. NL	Still open	Fox, Fubo

Monday, October 28th

Game	Time (ET)	TV/live stream
Game 3: AL vs. NL	Still open	Fox, Fubo

Tuesday, October 29th

Game	Time (ET)	TV/live stream
Game 4: AL vs. NL	Still open	Fox, Fubo

Wednesday, October 30th

Game	Time (ET)	TV/live stream
Game 5*: AL vs. NL	Still open	Fox, Fubo

* – if required

Friday, November 1st

Game	Time (ET)	TV/live stream
Game 6*: AL vs. NL	Still open	Fox, Fubo

* – if required

Saturday November 2nd

Game	Time (ET)	TV/live stream
Game 7*: AL vs. NL	Still open	Fox, Fubo

* – if required