Major League Baseball's postseason has been a hit with viewers, as the National League Championship Series and American League Championship Series have seen impressive ratings. The first game of the NLCS between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers drew in 8.26 million viewers, the most-watched LCS game on any network since 2009. The ALCS opener between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians saw a 4% increase in viewership from the previous year, with 3.9 million viewers tuning in.
These championship series have been competing for attention with primetime NFL games, as all three of New York's NFL teams were playing during the same time slots. Despite this competition, MLB has seen a rise in viewership, with the American League Division Series averaging 3 million viewers, a more than 20% increase from the previous year.
MLB has made efforts to increase action in games and attract younger viewers, with rule changes and a focus on generational stars like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge. Ohtani made history by becoming the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season. These changes have contributed to the success of the 2024 regular season, with increases in attendance, fan engagement, streaming, and viewership.
As the postseason unfolds, the Yankees hold a 2-0 game lead against the Guardians, while the Mets and Dodgers series is tied at 1-1. Each remaining team has its own storylines and draws, from the Mets' turnaround season to the Guardians' resurgence led by star Jose Ramirez. If the Dodgers and Yankees advance to the World Series, it would be a matchup of two of the most storied franchises in MLB, a prospect that has fans and industry insiders excited about the future of the sport.