Chicago Cubs: 2017 Postseason Schedule (UPDATED)

CHICAGO, IL — The Chicago Cubs earned the right to defend their World Series title Wednesday by beating the rival St. Louis Cardinals and becoming National League Central champs for the second year in a row. This season's playoff berth also marks Chicago's third consecutive trip to the postseason. So what can the North Siders — and all their fans — expect in the first round and beyond this year?

The Cubs will face tough opposition right out of the playoff gate as they take on the NL East champion Washington Nationals. Not only will Chicago have to go against slugger Bryce Harper and the 1-2 pitching punch of Matt Scherzer and Stephen Strasberg, but the team will have to do so without home-field advantage.

Here's a look at the schedule for the NLDS, including first pitch times for Games 1 and 2, as well as a look ahead to the tentative schedules for the NL Championship Series and the World Series. The NL series games will air on TBS, while all World Series games will be broadcast by Fox. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Lake View and Chicago — or other neighborhoods. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

NL Division Series

Best-of-five series

• Friday, Oct. 6: at Washington; first pitch at 6:31 p.m. Cubs 3, Nationals 0
• Saturday, Oct. 7: at Washington; first pitch at 4:38 p.m. Nationals 6, Cubs 3
• Monday, Oct. 9: at Chicago; first pitch 3:08 p.m. (4:38 p.m. if there are only two NLDS games that day and both American League Division Series are over)
• *Tuesday, Oct. 10: at Chicago 4:38 p.m. (7:08 p.m. if Cubs-Nationals is the only NLDS game)
• *Thursday, Oct. 12: at Washington 4:38 p.m. (7:08 p.m. if Cubs-Nationals is the only NLDS game)

2016 NLDS: Cubs defeat the San Francisco Giants, 4-1

NL Championship Series

Best-of-seven series

• Oct. 14: Game 1 vs. winner of NLDS between Los Angeles Dodgers and NL Wild Card game winner
• Oct. 15: Game 2
• Oct. 17: Game 3
• Oct. 18: Game 4
• *Oct. 19: Game 5
• *Oct. 21: Game 6
• *Oct. 22: Game 7

2016 NLCS: Cubs defeat Dodgers, 4-2

World Series

Best-of-seven series

• Oct. 24: Game 1 vs. American League champions
• Oct. 25: Game 2
• Oct. 27: Game 3
• Oct. 28: Game 4
• *Oct. 29: Game 5
• *Oct. 31: Game 6
• *Nov. 1: Game 7

2016 World Series: Cubs defeat the Cleveland Indians, 4-3

*If necessary

The Chicago Cubs celebrate after clinching the National League Central title Wednesday, Sept. 27. (Photo by Jeff Roberson | Associated Press)

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