National League Championship Series

MLB series to determine which team will represent the National League in the World Series

"NLCS" redirects here. For other uses, see NLCS (disambiguation).

Part of a series on the

Major League Baseball postseason
Wild Card Series

* ALWCS
* NLWCS

Division Series

* ALDS
* NLDS

League Championship Series

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NLCS (Winners list)

World Series

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* Commissioner's Trophy

Teams

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Billy Bean standing with the NLCS logo at Dodger Stadium in 2016

The National League Championship Series (NLCS) is a best-of-seven playoff and one of two League Championship Series comprising the penultimate round of Major League Baseball's (MLB) postseason. It is contested by the winners of the two National League (NL) Division Series. The winner of the NLCS wins the NL pennant and advances to the World Series, MLB's championship series, to play the winner of the American League's (AL) Championship Series. The NLCS began in 1969 as a best-of-five playoff and used this format until 1985, when it changed to a best-of-seven format.

## History

[edit]

Before 1969, the National League champion (the "pennant winner") was determined by the best win–loss record at the end of the regular season. There were four ad hoc three-game playoff series due to ties under this formulation (in 1946, 1951, 1959, and 1962).

A structured postseason series began in 1969, when both the National and American Leagues were reorganized into two divisions each, East and West. The two division winners within each league played each other in a best-of-five series to determine who would advance to the World Series. In 1985, the format changed to best-of-seven.

The NLCS and ALCS, since the expansion to seven games, are always played in a 2–3–2 format: games 1, 2, 6, and 7 are played in the stadium of the team that has home field advantage, and games 3, 4, and 5 are played in the stadium of the team that does not. Home field advantage is given to the team that has the better record, except a division champion would always get home advantage over a Wild Card team. From 1969 to 1993, home field advantage was alternated between divisions each year regardless of regular season record and from 1995 to 1997 home field advantage was predetermined before the season.

In 1981, a one-off division series was held due to a split season caused by a players' strike.

In 1994, the league was restructured into three divisions, with the three division winners and a wild card team advancing to a best-of-five postseason round, the now-permanent National League Division Series (NLDS). The winners of that round advance to the best-of-seven NLCS; however, due to the player's strike later that season, no postseason was played and the new format did not formally begin until 1995. The playoffs were expanded in 2012 to include a second Wild Card team and in 2022 to include a third Wild Card team.

Seven managers have led a team to the NLCS in three consecutive seasons; however, the most consecutive NLCS appearances by one manager is held by Bobby Cox, who led the Atlanta Braves to eight straight from 1991 to 1999. The Braves (1991–1999) are also the only team in the National League to have made more than three consecutive National League Championship Series appearances. Tony La Russa and Jim Leyland are the only managers to lead their teams to three consecutive League Championship Series appearances in both leagues.

The Milwaukee Brewers, an American League team between 1969 and 1997, and the Houston Astros, a National League team between 1962 and 2012, are the only franchises to play in both the ALCS and NLCS. The Astros are the only team to have won both an NLCS (2005) and an ALCS (2017, 2019, 2021, and 2022). The Astros made four NLCS appearances before moving to the AL in 2013. Every current National League franchise has appeared in the NLCS and all teams except the Brewers have won an NL pennant via the NLCS.

For the first time in history, two wild card teams played in the 2022 National League Championship Series.

## Championship Trophy

[edit]

The Warren C. Giles Trophy is awarded to the NLCS winner.[1] Warren Giles served as president of the National League from 1951 to 1969.[2]

## Most Valuable Player Award

[edit]

See: League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award#National League winners

A Most Valuable Player (MVP) award is given to the outstanding player in the NLCS. No MVP award is given for Division Series play.

The MVP award has been given to a player on the losing team twice, in 1986 to Mike Scott of the Houston Astros and in 1987 to Jeffrey Leonard of the San Francisco Giants.

Although the National League began its LCS MVP award in 1977, the American League did not begin its LCS MVP award until 1980.[3] The winners are listed in several locations:

* in the below NLCS results table, in the "Series MVP" column
* in the article League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award
* on the MLB website[3]

## Results

[edit]

Further information: List of National League pennant winners § 1876–1968

Key  †  | Wild card

|

| MVP did not play for winning team
Year  | Winning team  | Manager  | Games  | Losing team  | Manager  | Series MVP

|
|
|
|
|
|

1969 | New York Mets | Gil Hodges | 3–0  | Atlanta Braves | Lum Harris |
1970 | Cincinnati Reds | Sparky Anderson | 3–0  | Pittsburgh Pirates | Danny Murtaugh
1971 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Danny Murtaugh | 3–1  | San Francisco Giants | Charlie Fox
1972 | Cincinnati Reds | Sparky Anderson | 3–2  | Pittsburgh Pirates | Bill Virdon
1973 | New York Mets | Yogi Berra | 3–2  | Cincinnati Reds | Sparky Anderson
1974 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Walter Alston | 3–1  | Pittsburgh Pirates | Danny Murtaugh
1975 | Cincinnati Reds | Sparky Anderson | 3–0  | Pittsburgh Pirates | Danny Murtaugh
1976 | Cincinnati Reds | Sparky Anderson | 3–0  | Philadelphia Phillies | Danny Ozark
1977 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Tommy Lasorda | 3–1  | Philadelphia Phillies | Danny Ozark | Dusty Baker, Los Angeles
1978 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Tommy Lasorda | 3–1  | Philadelphia Phillies | Danny Ozark | Steve Garvey, Los Angeles
1979 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Chuck Tanner | 3–0  | Cincinnati Reds | John McNamara | Willie Stargell, Pittsburgh
1980 | Philadelphia Phillies | Dallas Green | 3–2  | Houston Astros | Bill Virdon | Manny Trillo, Philadelphia
1981 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Tommy Lasorda | 3–2  | Montreal Expos | Jim Fanning | Burt Hooton, Los Angeles
1982 | St. Louis Cardinals | Whitey Herzog | 3–0  | Atlanta Braves | Joe Torre | Darrell Porter, St. Louis
1983 | Philadelphia Phillies | Paul Owens | 3–1  | Los Angeles Dodgers | Tommy Lasorda | Gary Matthews, Philadelphia
1984 | San Diego Padres | Dick Williams | 3–2  | Chicago Cubs | Jim Frey | Steve Garvey, San Diego
1985 | St. Louis Cardinals | Whitey Herzog | 4–2  | Los Angeles Dodgers | Tommy Lasorda | Ozzie Smith, St. Louis
1986 | New York Mets | Davey Johnson | 4–2  | Houston Astros | Hal Lanier | Mike Scott, Houston*
1987 | St. Louis Cardinals | Whitey Herzog | 4–3  | San Francisco Giants | Roger Craig | Jeffrey Leonard, San Francisco*
1988 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Tommy Lasorda | 4–3  | New York Mets | Davey Johnson | Orel Hershiser, Los Angeles
1989 | San Francisco Giants | Roger Craig | 4–1  | Chicago Cubs | Don Zimmer | Will Clark, San Francisco
1990 | Cincinnati Reds | Lou Piniella | 4–2  | Pittsburgh Pirates | Jim Leyland | Rob Dibble and Randy Myers, Cincinnati
1991 | Atlanta Braves | Bobby Cox | 4–3  | Pittsburgh Pirates | Jim Leyland | Steve Avery, Atlanta
1992 | Atlanta Braves | Bobby Cox | 4–3  | Pittsburgh Pirates | Jim Leyland | John Smoltz, Atlanta
1993 | Philadelphia Phillies | Jim Fregosi | 4–2  | Atlanta Braves | Bobby Cox | Curt Schilling, Philadelphia
1994 | No Series due to a players' strike.
1995 | Atlanta Braves | Bobby Cox | 4–0  | Cincinnati Reds | Davey Johnson | Mike Devereaux, Atlanta
1996 | Atlanta Braves | Bobby Cox | 4–3  | St. Louis Cardinals | Tony La Russa | Javy López, Atlanta
1997 | Florida Marlins† | Jim Leyland | 4–2  | Atlanta Braves | Bobby Cox | Liván Hernández, Florida
1998 | San Diego Padres | Bruce Bochy | 4–2  | Atlanta Braves | Bobby Cox | Sterling Hitchcock, San Diego
1999 | Atlanta Braves | Bobby Cox | 4–2  | New York Mets† | Bobby Valentine | Eddie Pérez, Atlanta
2000 | New York Mets† | Bobby Valentine | 4–1  | St. Louis Cardinals | Tony La Russa | Mike Hampton, New York
2001 | Arizona Diamondbacks | Bob Brenly | 4–1  | Atlanta Braves | Bobby Cox | Craig Counsell, Arizona
2002 | San Francisco Giants† | Dusty Baker | 4–1  | St. Louis Cardinals | Tony La Russa | Benito Santiago, San Francisco
2003 | Florida Marlins† | Jack McKeon | 4–3  | Chicago Cubs | Dusty Baker | Iván Rodríguez, Florida
2004 | St. Louis Cardinals | Tony La Russa | 4–3  | Houston Astros† | Phil Garner | Albert Pujols, St. Louis
2005 | Houston Astros† | Phil Garner | 4–2  | St. Louis Cardinals | Tony La Russa | Roy Oswalt, Houston
2006 | St. Louis Cardinals | Tony La Russa | 4–3  | New York Mets | Willie Randolph | Jeff Suppan, St. Louis
2007 | Colorado Rockies† | Clint Hurdle | 4–0  | Arizona Diamondbacks | Bob Melvin | Matt Holliday, Colorado
2008 | Philadelphia Phillies | Charlie Manuel | 4–1  | Los Angeles Dodgers | Joe Torre | Cole Hamels, Philadelphia
2009 | Philadelphia Phillies | Charlie Manuel | 4–1  | Los Angeles Dodgers | Joe Torre | Ryan Howard, Philadelphia
2010 | San Francisco Giants | Bruce Bochy | 4–2  | Philadelphia Phillies | Charlie Manuel | Cody Ross, San Francisco
2011 | St. Louis Cardinals† | Tony La Russa | 4–2  | Milwaukee Brewers | Ron Roenicke | David Freese, St. Louis
2012 | San Francisco Giants | Bruce Bochy | 4–3  | St. Louis Cardinals† | Mike Matheny | Marco Scutaro, San Francisco
2013 | St. Louis Cardinals | Mike Matheny | 4–2  | Los Angeles Dodgers | Don Mattingly | Michael Wacha, St. Louis
2014 | San Francisco Giants† | Bruce Bochy | 4–1  | St. Louis Cardinals | Mike Matheny | Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco
2015 | New York Mets | Terry Collins | 4–0  | Chicago Cubs† | Joe Maddon | Daniel Murphy, New York
2016 | Chicago Cubs | Joe Maddon | 4–2  | Los Angeles Dodgers | Dave Roberts | Javier Báez and Jon Lester, Chicago
2017 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Dave Roberts | 4–1  | Chicago Cubs | Joe Maddon | Chris Taylor and Justin Turner, Los Angeles
2018 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Dave Roberts | 4–3  | Milwaukee Brewers | Craig Counsell | Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles
2019 | Washington Nationals† | Dave Martinez | 4–0  | St. Louis Cardinals | Mike Shildt | Howie Kendrick, Washington
2020 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Dave Roberts | 4–3  | Atlanta Braves | Brian Snitker | Corey Seager, Los Angeles
2021 | Atlanta Braves | Brian Snitker | 4–2  | Los Angeles Dodgers† | Dave Roberts | Eddie Rosario, Atlanta
2022 | Philadelphia Phillies† | Rob Thomson | 4–1  | San Diego Padres† | Bob Melvin | Bryce Harper, Philadelphia
2023 | Arizona Diamondbacks† | Torey Lovullo | 4–3  | Philadelphia Phillies† | Rob Thomson | Ketel Marte, Arizona
2024 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Dave Roberts | 4–2  | New York Mets† | Carlos Mendoza | Tommy Edman, Los Angeles

### Appearances by team

[edit]

Apps  | Team  | Wins  | Losses  | Win %  | Most recent
win  | Most recent
appearance  | Games
won  | Games
lost  | Game
win %

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

16 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 9 | 7 | .563 | 2024 | 2024 | 43 | 44 | .494
14 | St. Louis Cardinals | 7 | 7 | .500 | 2013 | 2019 | 38 | 43 | .469
13 | Atlanta Braves | 6 | 7 | .462 | 2021 | 2021 | 34 | 39 | .466
11 | Philadelphia Phillies | 6 | 5 | .545 | 2022 | 2023 | 29 | 25 | .537
9 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 2 | 7 | .222 | 1979 | 1992 | 17 | 25 | .405
8 | Cincinnati Reds | 5 | 3 | .625 | 1990 | 1995 | 18 | 14 | .563
9 | New York Mets | 5 | 4 | .556 | 2015 | 2024 | 28 | 21 | .571
7 | San Francisco Giants | 5 | 2 | .714 | 2014 | 2014 | 24 | 15 | .615
6 | Chicago Cubs | 1 | 5 | .167 | 2016 | 2017 | 11 | 21 | .344
4 | Houston Astros[a] | 1 | 3 | .250 | 2005 | 2005 | 11 | 13 | .458
3 | Arizona Diamondbacks | 2 | 1 | .667 | 2023 | 2023 | 8 | 8 | .500
3 | San Diego Padres | 2 | 1 | .667 | 1998 | 2022 | 8 | 8 | .500
2 | Miami Marlins | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | 2003 | 2003 | 8 | 5 | .615
2 | Washington Nationals | 1 | 1 | .500 | 2019 | 2019 | 6 | 3 | .667
2 | Milwaukee Brewers | 0 | 2 | .000 | Never | 2018 | 5 | 8 | .385
1 | Colorado Rockies | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 2007 | 2007 | 4 | 0 | 1.000

### Years of appearance

[edit]

In the sortable table below, teams are ordered first by number of wins, then by number of appearances, and finally by year of first appearance. In the "Season(s)" column, bold years indicate winning appearances.

Apps | Team  | Wins  | Losses  | Win %  | Season(s)

|
|
|
|
|

16 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 9 | 7 | .563 | 1974, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1988, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2024
14 | St. Louis Cardinals | 7 | 7 | .500 | 1982, 1985, 1987, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2019
13 | Atlanta Braves | 6 | 7 | .462 | 1969, 1982, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2020, 2021
11 | Philadelphia Phillies | 6 | 5 | .545 | 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1993, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2022, 2023
9 | New York Mets | 5 | 4 | .556 | 1969, 1973, 1986, 1988, 1999, 2000, 2006, 2015, 2024
8 | Cincinnati Reds | 5 | 3 | .625 | 1970, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1990, 1995
7 | San Francisco Giants | 5 | 2 | .714 | 1971, 1987, 1989, 2002, 2010, 2012, 2014
9 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 2 | 7 | .222 | 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1979, 1990, 1991, 1992
3 | San Diego Padres | 2 | 1 | .667 | 1984, 1998, 2022
3 | Arizona Diamondbacks | 2 | 1 | .667 | 2001, 2007, 2023
2 | Miami Marlins | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | 1997, 2003
6 | Chicago Cubs | 1 | 5 | .167 | 1984, 1989, 2003, 2015, 2016, 2017
4 | Houston Astros[a] | 1 | 3 | .250 | 1980, 1986, 2004, 2005
2 | Washington Nationals | 1 | 1 | .500 | 1981, 2019
1 | Colorado Rockies | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 2007
2 | Milwaukee Brewers | 0 | 2 | .000 | 2011, 2018

### Frequent matchups

[edit]

Count  | Matchup  | Record  | Years

|
|
|

5  | Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates | Reds, 4–1  | 1970, 1972, 1975, 1979, 1990
5  | Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies | Phillies, 3–2  | 1977, 1978, 1983, 2008, 2009
4  | San Francisco Giants vs. St. Louis Cardinals | Giants, 3–1  | 1987, 2002, 2012, 2014
2  | Atlanta Braves vs. New York Mets | Tied, 1–1  | 1969, 1999
2  | Atlanta Braves vs. St. Louis Cardinals | Tied, 1–1  | 1982, 1996
2  | Atlanta Braves vs. Pittsburgh Pirates | Braves, 2–0  | 1991, 1992
2  | Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers | Tied, 1–1  | 2020, 2021
2  | Houston Astros vs. St. Louis Cardinals | Tied, 1–1  | 2004, 2005
2  | New York Mets vs. St. Louis Cardinals | Tied, 1–1  | 2000, 2006
2  | Los Angeles Dodgers vs. St. Louis Cardinals | Cardinals, 2–0  | 1985, 2013
2  | Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers | Tied, 1–1  | 2016, 2017
2  | Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Mets | Dodgers, 2–0  | 1988, 2024

## See also

[edit]

* Baseball portal

* List of National League pennant winners
* List of National League Wild Card winners
* National League Division Series
* American League Championship Series

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b The Houston Astros moved to the American League in 2013.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "'Fantastic feeling' for Bill Giles". The Philadelphia Inquirer. October 16, 2008. Retrieved August 17, 2009.
2. ^ Amour, Mark. "Warren Giles". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
3. ^ a b League Championship Series Most Valuable Players (MLB.com/News/Awards/History/ ). MLB Advanced Media, L.P. Retrieved August 31, 2009.

## External links

[edit]

* League Championship Series History at Baseball Almanac
* World Series and MLB Playoffs at Baseball-Reference.com
* Post-Season Games Directory at Retrosheet

* v
* t
* e

Major League Baseball

2025 season

American League|

| East|

* Baltimore Orioles
* Boston Red Sox
* New York Yankees
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|

Central|

* Chicago White Sox
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West|

* Athletics
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National League|

| East|

* Atlanta Braves
* Miami Marlins
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|

Central|

* Chicago Cubs
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West|

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|

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|

Steroid usage|

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Antitrust cases|

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* v
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National League Championship Series

* 1969
* 1970
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* 1979

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* v
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National League

Organization|

* Parent league: Major League Baseball
* Partner league: American League
* Honorary president: Bill Giles

Current teams|

| East|

* Atlanta Braves
* Miami Marlins
* New York Mets
* Philadelphia Phillies
* Washington Nationals

|

Central|

* Chicago Cubs
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West|

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Former, relocated,
and disestablished teams|

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Championship play|

* Champions
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* Wild Card winners

Related articles|

* Professional baseball

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