 | |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | October 2–28, 2018[1] |
| Teams | 10 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Boston Red Sox (9th title) |
| Runners-up | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| Awards | |
| MVP | Steve Pearce (BOS) |
The2018 Major League Baseball postseason was the playoff tournament ofMajor League Baseball for the2018 season. The winners of theDivision Series would move on to theLeague Championship Series to determine the pennant winners that face each other in theWorld Series.
In the American League, theBoston Red Sox andCleveland Indians made their third straight appearances, theHouston Astros andNew York Yankees made their second straight appearances, and theOakland Athletics made their fourth appearance in the past seven years. This postseason was notable for being the first in which the American League had three teams that won at least 100 games or more in the regular season.[2]
In the National League, theLos Angeles Dodgers made their sixth straight postseason appearance, theColorado Rockies made their second straight appearance, theChicago Cubs made their fourth straight appearance, theAtlanta Braves made their first appearance since2013, and theMilwaukee Brewers made their first appearance since2011. This was the first ofseven consecutive postseason appearances for the Braves.
The postseason began on October 2, and ended on October 28, with the Red Sox defeating the Dodgers in five games in the2018 World Series. It was the ninth title won by the Red Sox organization, tying theOakland Athletics for the third most World Series championships.
The following teams qualified for the postseason:
| Wild Card Games (ALWC, NLWC) | Division Series (ALDS, NLDS) | League Championship Series (ALCS, NLCS) | World Series | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Boston | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | NY Yankees | 1 | 4 | NY Yankees | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| 5 | Oakland | 0 | American League | 1 | Boston | 4 | |||||||||||||
| 2 | Houston | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Houston | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Cleveland | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| AL1 | Boston | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| NL2 | LA Dodgers | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Milwaukee | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Chicago Cubs | 0 | 5 | Colorado | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 5 | Colorado | 1 | National League | 1 | Milwaukee | 3 | |||||||||||||
| 2 | LA Dodgers | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | LA Dodgers | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Atlanta | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| New York | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | X | 7 | 7 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP:Dellin Betances (1–0) LP:Liam Hendriks (0–1) Home runs: OAK:Khris Davis (1) NYY:Aaron Judge (1),Giancarlo Stanton (1) Attendance: 49,620 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This was the fourth postseason meeting between the Athletics and Yankees. The Yankees had won the previous three meetings (1981,2000,2001). The Yankees defeated the Athletics in a blowout win to advance to the ALDS for the second year in a row.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Chicago | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| WP:Scott Oberg (1–0) LP:Kyle Hendricks (0–1) Home runs: COL: none CHC: none Attendance: 40,151 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Rockies upset the Cubs in a thirteen-inning duel, 2–1, to advance to the NLDS for the first time since2009.
Boston won the series, 3–1.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 5 | New York Yankees – 4,Boston Red Sox – 5 | Fenway Park | 3:41 | 39,059[13] |
| 2 | October 6 | New York Yankees – 6, Boston Red Sox – 2 | Fenway Park | 3:31 | 39,151[14] |
| 3 | October 8 | Boston Red Sox – 16, New York Yankees – 1 | Yankee Stadium | 3:41 | 49,657[15] |
| 4 | October 9 | Boston Red Sox – 4, New York Yankees – 3 | Yankee Stadium | 3:28 | 49,641[16] |
This was the fourth postseason meeting in the history of theYankees–Red Sox rivalry. They had last met in the ALCS in2004, where the Red Sox became the first team in MLB history to win a series after facing a 3–0 series deficit. The Red Sox again defeated the Yankees to advance to the ALCS for the first time since2013.
The Red Sox took Game 1 by one run as closerCraig Kimbrel held off a late Yankees rally. The Yankees evened the series with a 6–2 victory in Game 2 thanks to three home runs fromGary Sánchez andAaron Judge respectively. Game 3 was the most notable matchup of the series, as the Red Sox blew out the Yankees 16–1 in Yankee Stadium despite having only one home run fromBrock Holt, handing the Yankees their worst postseason loss ever. The Red Sox took a 4–0 lead in Game 4, and while the Yankees cut their lead to one in the bottom of the ninth, the Red Sox still held on to close out the series.
The Yankees and Red Sox would meet again in the Wild Card round in2021 and2025, with the Red Sox winning the former and the Yankees winning the latter.
Houston won the series, 3–0.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 5 | Cleveland Indians – 2,Houston Astros – 7 | Minute Maid Park | 3:36 | 43,514[17] |
| 2 | October 6 | Cleveland Indians – 1,Houston Astros – 3 | Minute Maid Park | 3:12 | 43,520[18] |
| 3 | October 8 | Houston Astros – 11, Cleveland Indians – 3 | Progressive Field | 4:02 | 37,252[19] |
The Astros swept the Indians to return to the ALCS for the second year in a row.
Justin Verlander pitched five solid innings as the Astros blew out the Indians in Game 1. Houston’sGerrit Cole outdueled Cleveland’sCarlos Carrasco in a pitcher’s duel in Game 2 as they took a 2–0 series lead headed to Cleveland. The Astros blew out the Indians again in Game 3 to close out the series.
Milwaukee won the series, 3–0.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 4 | Colorado Rockies – 2,Milwaukee Brewers – 3(10) | Miller Park | 4:04 | 43,382[20] |
| 2 | October 5 | Colorado Rockies – 0,Milwaukee Brewers – 4 | Miller Park | 3:45 | 44,547[21] |
| 3 | October 7 | Milwaukee Brewers – 6, Colorado Rockies – 0 | Coors Field | 3:14 | 49,658[22] |
The Brewers swept the Rockies to return to the NLCS for the first time since 2011.
The Rockies were simply outmatched by the Brewers' offense and pitching. Game 1 was the only close game of the series, asMike Moustakas won it for the Brewers with a walk-off RBI single off Colorado’sAdam Ottavino in the bottom of the tenth.Jhoulys Chacín and the Milwaukee bullpen kept the Rockies’ bats silent in Game 2 as they took a 2–0 series lead heading to Denver.Jesús Aguilar,Orlando Arcia, andKeon Broxton all homered for the Brewers in Game 3 as they shut out the Rockies yet again to finish the sweep.
As of 2025, this is the last time the Rockies appeared in the postseason.[23]
Los Angeles won the series, 3–1.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 4 | Atlanta Braves – 0,Los Angeles Dodgers – 6 | Dodger Stadium | 3:13 | 50,947[24] |
| 2 | October 5 | Atlanta Braves – 0,Los Angeles Dodgers – 3 | Dodger Stadium | 2:35 | 54,452[25] |
| 3 | October 7 | Los Angeles Dodgers – 5,Atlanta Braves – 6 | SunTrust Park | 3:36 | 42,385[26] |
| 4 | October 8 | Los Angeles Dodgers – 6 Atlanta Braves – 2 | SunTrust Park | 3:42 | 39,586[27] |
This was the third postseason meeting between the Dodgers and Braves. The Dodgers defeated the Braves in four games to return to the NLCS for the third year in a row and sixth time in ten years.
Hyun-jin Ryu pitched seven innings of shutout ball in Game 1 as the Dodgers shut out the Braves 6-0. In Game 2,Clayton Kershaw pitched eight shutout innings as he beatAníbal Sánchez in a pitchers’ duel in another shutout win for the Dodgers as they took a 2–0 series lead headed to Atlanta. In Game 3, a grand slam fromRonald Acuña Jr. and another home run fromFreddie Freeman propelled the Braves to victory. In Game 4, the Braves led 2-1 after five innings, but the Dodgers put up five unanswered runs across the sixth and seventh innings, capped off by a three-run home run fromManny Machado, to win and close out the series.
The Braves and Dodgers would face each other two more times in the postseason — in the NLCS in2020 and2021, with the Dodgers winning the former, and the Braves winning the latter, with both teams going on to win the World Series.
Boston won the series, 4–1.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 13 | Houston Astros – 7, Boston Red Sox – 2 | Fenway Park | 4:03 | 38,007[28] |
| 2 | October 14 | Houston Astros – 5,Boston Red Sox – 7 | Fenway Park | 3:45 | 37,960[29] |
| 3 | October 16 | Boston Red Sox – 8, Houston Astros – 2 | Minute Maid Park | 3:52 | 43,102[30] |
| 4 | October 17 | Boston Red Sox – 8, Houston Astros – 6 | Minute Maid Park | 4:33 | 43,277[31] |
| 5 | October 18 | Boston Red Sox – 4, Houston Astros – 1 | Minute Maid Park | 3:32 | 43,210[32] |
This was the second postseason meeting between the Astros and Red Sox. The Red Sox defeated the defending World Series champion Astros in five games and returned to the World Series for the first time since2013.
Justin Verlander pitched six solid innings as the Astros blew out the Red Sox on the road in Game 1. The Red Sox prevailed in a Game 2 slugfest to even the series headed to Houston. In Game 3, with the score tied after five innings,Steve Pearce hit a solo homer in the top of the sixth to put the Red Sox in the lead for good as they blew out the Astros to take the series lead. Game 4 was yet another slugfest that was won by the Red Sox thanks to a two-run homer fromJackie Bradley Jr. that put them in the lead for good in the top of the sixth.David Price pitched six innings of shutout ball in Game 5 as the Red Sox won to secure the pennant.
The Astros would return to the ALCSthe next year, where they defeated theNew York Yankees in six games before falling in the World Series.
As of 2025, this is the last time the Red Sox won the AL pennant. The Red Sox and Astros would meet again in the ALCS in2021, in which the Astros returned the favor and defeated the Red Sox in six games before falling in the World Series again that year.
Los Angeles won the series, 4–3.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 12 | Los Angeles Dodgers – 5,Milwaukee Brewers – 6 | Miller Park | 4:02 | 43,615[33] |
| 2 | October 13 | Los Angeles Dodgers – 4, Milwaukee Brewers – 3 | Miller Park | 3:31 | 43,905[34] |
| 3 | October 15 | Milwaukee Brewers – 4, Los Angeles Dodgers – 0 | Dodger Stadium | 3:25 | 52,793[35] |
| 4 | October 16 | Milwaukee Brewers – 1,Los Angeles Dodgers – 2(13) | Dodger Stadium | 5:15 | 53,764[36] |
| 5 | October 17 | Milwaukee Brewers – 2,Los Angeles Dodgers – 5 | Dodger Stadium | 3:35 | 54,502[37] |
| 6 | October 19 | Los Angeles Dodgers – 2,Milwaukee Brewers – 7 | Miller Park | 3:34 | 43,619[38] |
| 7 | October 20 | Los Angeles Dodgers – 5, Milwaukee Brewers – 1 | Miller Park | 3:15 | 44,097[39] |
This was the first postseason meeting between the Brewers and Dodgers. The Dodgers narrowly defeated the Brewers in seven games to return to the World Series for the second year in a row.
The Brewers prevailed in a Game 1 slugfest thanks toCorey Knebel, who stopped a late rally by the Dodgers in the top of the ninth. In Game 2, the Brewers led 3-0 after the sixth inning, but the Dodgers put up four unanswered runs across the seventh and eighth to even the series headed to Los Angeles. In Game 3,Jhoulys Chacín and the Brewers bullpen pitched a shutout as they retook the series lead. Game 4 was a long and grueling extra inning battle that was won by the Dodgers in the bottom of the thirteenth thanks to a walk-off RBI single fromCody Bellinger which scoredManny Machado. Game 4 lasted 5 hours and 15 minutes, making it the second longest NLCS game behind onlyGame 5 of the 1999 NLCS, which lasted 5 hours and 46 minutes.[40] In Game 5,Clayton Kershaw pitched seven solid innings as the Dodgers took a 3–2 series lead headed back to Milwaukee. In Game 6, the Brewers blew out the Dodgers to force a seventh game. In Game 7, the Brewers struck first with a solo homer byChristian Yelich in the bottom of the first, but thenCody Bellinger answered back with a two-run homer in the top of the second that put the Dodgers in the lead for good, and then the Dodgers put up three more unanswered insurance runs in the top of the sixth off a three-run homer byYasiel Puig to secure their second straight pennant.
The Dodgers' win was marred by controversy, as the team was accused by the Brewers'Eric Kratz of using a video camera to steal signs. An anonymous source reported toThe Athletic that "They use video people to get sequences", and that "It's known throughout the league. MLB knows it's an issue." Kratz also pointed to a moment in the sixth inning of Game 5 when he sawManny Machado motioning towardChris Taylor, who was at the plate in what he thought was an attempt to inform him of the upcoming pitch.[41]
The Dodgers would win their next pennant in2020 over theAtlanta Braves in seven games after trailing 3–1 in the series en route to a World Series title.
Both teams would meet again in the Wild Card round in2020, as well as the NLCS in2025, which the Dodgers both swept en route to World Series victories.
Boston won the series, 4–1.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 23 | Los Angeles Dodgers – 4,Boston Red Sox – 8 | Fenway Park | 3:52 | 38,454[42] |
| 2 | October 24 | Los Angeles Dodgers – 2,Boston Red Sox – 4 | Fenway Park | 3:12 | 38,644[43] |
| 3 | October 26 | Boston Red Sox – 2,Los Angeles Dodgers – 3(18) | Dodger Stadium | 7:20 | 53,114[44] |
| 4 | October 27 | Boston Red Sox − 9, Los Angeles Dodgers − 6 | Dodger Stadium | 3:57 | 54,400[45] |
| 5 | October 28 | Boston Red Sox – 5, Los Angeles Dodgers – 1 | Dodger Stadium | 3:00 | 54,367[46] |
This was a rematch of the1916 World Series, which the Red Sox won in five games. It was also the twelfth meeting between teams fromBoston andLos Angeles for amajor professional sports championship. This previously occurred in elevenNBA Finals between both cities’NBA teams in theLakers andCeltics.[47] Like in 1916, history again repeated itself, and the Red Sox defeated the Dodgers in five quick games to win their ninth World Series title in franchise history, tying theOakland Athletics for the third most World Series wins.
The Red Sox took care of business at home in Game 1. In Game 2,David Price outdueled Los Angeles’Hyun-jin Ryu as the Red Sox won 4-2 to take a 2-0 series lead heading to Los Angeles. This series was known for its Game 3, which the Dodgers won after eighteen innings of play, 3–2. Game 3 became the longest World Series game ever played, and was longer than the entirety of the1939 World Series. Game 4 was an offensive slugfest that was won by the Red Sox asMitch Moreland andSteve Pearce hit home runs late to give Boston the win and a commanding 3-1 series lead. The Red Sox clinched the title in Game 5 as Price outdueledClayton Kershaw in another pitcher’s duel.
Like the Astros in the2017 World Series, the Red Sox after winning this World Series were then marred by a scandal. On January 7, 2020, the Red Sox were implicated in the same illegal sign stealing scandal as the Astros (the team had previously been fined in 2017 for illegal sign stealing)[48] after three unnamed team members toldThe Athletic that the Red Sox had used their replay room to illegally steal signs of opposing teams during the2018 season.[49] On January 13, 2020, MLB CommissionerRob Manfred stated that he would determine the appropriate punishment for Red Sox managerAlex Cora, who was also implicated in theAstros scandal, when the investigation was completed. The next day, Cora and the Red Sox mutually agreed to part ways and it was announced he would be suspended for the full season.[50] A few days after his season long suspension ended, Cora was re-hired by the team. As a result of the investigation, the Red Sox were punished with the loss of a second-round draft pick in the2020 MLB Draft.[51] In 2023, sportswriter Evan Drellich uncovered allegations from sources in the Dodgers organization that the Dodgers allegedly took part in the same illegal sign-stealing as the Astros and Red Sox during this World Series, however no conclusive evidence has surfaced as of yet.[52]
As of 2025, this is the last time the Dodgers lost in the World Series. They would return to the Fall Classic in2020, which they won in six games over theTampa Bay Rays.
This was fifth year of eight-year U.S. TV contracts withESPN,Fox Sports, andTBS. ESPN aired the National League Wild Card Game,Fox Sports 1 andMLB Network split the National League Division Series, and theFox broadcast network and Fox Sports 1 split the National League Championship Series. TBS had the American League Wild Card Game, Division Series, and Championship Series, with sister networkTNT used as an overflow channel. The World Series then aired on the Fox broadcast network for the nineteenth consecutive year.
