The postseason began on October 5, and ended on November 2, with the Braves defeating the Astros in six games in the 2021 World Series.

Shane McClanahan pitched five solid innings as the Rays shut out the Red Sox in Game 1.

In a long and wild Game 3, the Red Sox narrowly won in the bottom of the thirteenth inning as Christian Vázquez hit a walk-off two—run home run to give them the series lead.

To date, this is the most recent playoff series victory by the Red Sox, and the last postseason appearance outside of the Wild Card round for the Rays.

The Astros’ offense came alive in Game 2 as they would proceed in another blowout win to go up 2–0 in the series headed to Chicago.

In Game 3, Leury García and Yasmani Grandal both hit home runs and a combined seven RBIs as the White Sox blew out the Astros to get on the board in the series.

In the seasons afterward, the White Sox imploded and would set a new mark of baseball futility, as their 2024 team lost an MLB-record 121 games.

This was the first postseason meeting in the history of the Dodgers–Giants rivalry, and the first NLDS series between two teams that had won 100 games or more in the regular season.

The Dodgers upset MLB-best Giants in five games to advance to the NLCS for the fifth time in the past six years.

Alex Wood and three San Francisco relievers shut out the Dodgers again in Game 3 to retake the series lead.

Game 5 was a pitchers’ duel between both teams’ bullpens, which was won by the Dodgers as they narrowly held off the Giants in the bottom of the ninth inning.

In Game 3, the Braves again shut out the Brewers by an identical 3–0 score thanks to a three—run home run from Joc Pederson to take the series lead.

The Astros defeated the Red Sox in six games to advance to the World Series for the third time in five years.

In Game 2, the Braves came from behind late to win thanks to an RBI from Eddie Rosario to take a 2–0 series lead headed to Los Angeles.

However, the Dodgers responded with a blowout win of their own in Game 5, in part thanks to three home runs from Chris Taylor, to send the series back to Atlanta.

In Game 6, Rosario put the Braves ahead for good with a three-run home run to clinch the pennant.

Ian Anderson and the Braves’ bullpen pitched a no-hitter through seven innings as they shut out the Astros 2–0 to regain the series lead in Game 3.

In Game 5, the Braves jumped out to a big early lead, but the Astros rallied to win and send the series back to Houston.

However, Soler, Swanson and Freddie Freeman all homered as the Braves blew out the Astros in Game 6 to clinch the championship.

The Braves returned to the postseason again the next year, but were upset by the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS, who went on a Cinderella run to the World Series.

The Astros returned to the World Series again the next year, and defeated the aforementioned Phillies in six games to win their second championship.