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    National League Championship Series Tickets

    Best-of-seven in October · higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 6 and 7

    A best-of-seven series each October decides the National League pennant and sends the winner to the World Series.

    By the Good Seats editorial teamUpdated How we research

    Upcoming National League Championship Series dates

    Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.

    The series that decides the National League pennant

    The National League Championship Series (NLCS) is Major League Baseball's semifinal round for the National League. It is a best-of-seven series played in October, and the first team to win four games takes the NL pennant (the league championship) and the Warren C. Giles Trophy, then advances to the World Series against the American League champion.

    The two teams reach it through a 12-team postseason, in place since 2022. Six teams qualify in each league: three division winners and three wild cards. The two best division winners skip the best-of-three Wild Card Series, and the survivors play best-of-five Division Series. The NLCS follows.

    In 2025 the Los Angeles Dodgers swept the Milwaukee Brewers four games to none, from October 13 to October 17.

    The 2-3-2 format and the games that may never happen

    The NLCS uses a 2-3-2 home pattern. The higher-seeded team hosts Games 1 and 2, the other team hosts Games 3, 4 and 5, and the series returns to the higher seed for Games 6 and 7.

    • Games 1 through 4 are always played.
    • Games 5, 6 and 7 are played only if needed. In 2025 the series ended in four, so neither ballpark hosted its later games.
    • The higher seed's ballpark hosts two to four games; the lower seed's hosts two or three.

    That matters when you buy. A Game 6 or Game 7 ticket is a bet on a long series. Before you buy an if-necessary game, check how the listing handles a game that is not played.

    How NLCS tickets and demand behave

    The NLCS has a short sales window. The matchup is set only when the Division Series end, and the first game often follows within days.

    • Season ticket holders first. Teams set their own postseason rules and generally give season ticket holders the first chance at playoff seats, which limits what reaches a public sale.
    • Resale is where most fans buy. Listings appear as soon as a team's path to the NLCS is possible.
    • Potential clinchers draw the most. A game in which the home team can win the pennant in front of its own fans carries the strongest demand, and Game 7 is the rarest ticket of all.

    Other drivers: a long pennant drought, a rival opponent, weekend dates and a big home ballpark. Crowds are large in both kinds of building. In 2025 the two games in Milwaukee drew about 41,700 and 41,400, and the two at Dodger Stadium drew 51,251 and 52,883. Every GoodSeats order is backed by a 100% guarantee.

    Where to sit for an October playoff game

    The ballpark changes every year, but the choices are the same.

    • Infield, lower level: the seats between the dugouts see every pitch and play at the plate. They are the most sought after at any ballpark in October.
    • Home vs. visitor dugout side: sitting behind the home dugout puts you among home fans and close to the celebration if the home team clinches.
    • Upper-level infield: often the better value, with a full view of the field and the defensive alignment.
    • Outfield and bleachers: the loudest seats in many parks and a good choice for atmosphere, though depth and the angle make balls and strikes hard to judge.
    • Near the foul poles: seats angled toward the outfield can face away from home plate; check the angle before you buy.

    Many NLCS games are scheduled at night, and October nights in northern cities can be cold, so seats under an overhang or upper deck give some shelter. In ballparks with a roof, weather drops out of the decision. For day games, the side of the park in shade gets cool quickly in the fall.

    How the NLCS has changed since 1969

    • 1969: the series was created when each league split into East and West divisions.
    • 1969 to 1984: a best-of-five series.
    • 1985: expanded to best-of-seven in the current 2-3-2 format.
    • Through 1998: home-field advantage rotated between divisions; since then, it has gone by regular-season record and seeding.
    • 1977: the series MVP award began. Two players have won it while losing the series: Mike Scott in 1986 and Jeffrey Leonard in 1987.

    Two franchises have never lost an NLCS: the Colorado Rockies, who won in 2007, and the Miami Marlins, who won as the Florida Marlins in 1997 and 2003.

    Recent series and memorable pennants

    • 2016: the Chicago Cubs beat the Dodgers four games to two and clinched at Wrigley Field on October 22, their first pennant since 1945. They won the World Series eleven days later.
    • 2020: played at a neutral site, Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, because of the pandemic. The Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves four games to three, with a limited crowd averaging 10,835.
    • 2023: the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Philadelphia Phillies four games to three.
    • 2024: the Dodgers beat the New York Mets four games to two.
    • 2025: the Dodgers swept the Brewers. Shohei Ohtani was named MVP after hitting three home runs and pitching six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts in the clinching Game 4, and Milwaukee batted .118 for the series.

    The Dodgers went on to win the World Series in both 2024 and 2025. For the current postseason bracket and schedule, see MLB's postseason page.

    Frequently asked questions

    When is the NLCS played?

    In October, after the Wild Card Series and the Division Series. In 2025 it ran October 13 to October 17.

    How many games are in the NLCS?

    It is a best-of-seven series, so it lasts four to seven games. The first team to win four games takes the National League pennant.

    Which team hosts NLCS games?

    The higher seed hosts Games 1 and 2 and, if needed, Games 6 and 7. The other team hosts Games 3 and 4 and, if needed, Game 5.

    What happens to tickets for games that are not played?

    Games 5 through 7 are played only if needed. Check how your listing handles an unplayed game before you buy an if-necessary date.

    What does the NLCS winner receive?

    The National League pennant and the Warren C. Giles Trophy, named for a former National League president, plus a place in the World Series.

    Who won the 2025 NLCS?

    The Los Angeles Dodgers swept the Milwaukee Brewers four games to none, with Shohei Ohtani named series MVP.

    Sources