National League Championship Series
Billy Bean standing with the NLCS logo at Dodger Stadium in 2016 | |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Sport | Baseball |
| Month played | October |
| Established | 1969 |
| Administrator | Major League Baseball |
| Format | Best-of-seven series |
| Teams | 2 |
| Qualifier for | World Series |
| Defending champions | Los Angeles Dodgers (10th title) |
| Most championships | Los Angeles Dodgers (10 titles) |
| Broadcast |
|
| Most recent tournament | |
| 2025 National League Championship Series | |
| Part of a series on the |
| Major League Baseball postseason |
|---|
| Wild Card Series |
| Division Series |
| League Championship Series |
| World Series |
| Teams |
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.