The 2012 MLB World Series winner will be known by November 1 at the latest, but until then four teams remain in the hunt. Championship games for both leagues are currently underway to decide the participants for this year’s World Series. The
Detroit Tigers are taking on the New York Yankees in the American League, while the St. Louis Cardinals face off against the San Francisco Giants in the National League Championship Series.

The Tigers and Yankees are currently two games into their series, with Detroit pulling out both wins. In Game 1, played on Saturday, October 13, the Tigers won 6-4 after their outfielder Delmon Young batted in the winning run in the 12th inning. The New York Yankees lost their captain, shortstop Derek Jeter, after a dive for a ground ball resulted in his broken ankle. Jeter will be out for the rest of the year, but according to the Associated Press, Yankees manager Joe Girardi mentioned only “about a three-month recovery period,” and the injury is not expected to jeopardize Jeter’s career. Game 2 of the ALCS was played on Sunday, October 14, resulting in a 3-0 Tigers win after an umpire’s admittedly blown call led to some key runs for Detroit.

In the National League Championship Series, the St. Louis Cardinals have won their first game against the San Francisco Giants. Game 1 was played on Sunday, October 14, with the Cardinals taking a 6-4 victory. The 2012 MLB Playoffs are shaping up to be a true Cinderella story for St. Louis. The extra wild card slot added by baseball officials earlier in the year allowed the team an opportunity to even compete in the postseason, and a dramatic ninth inning comeback win in Game 5 against the Washington Nationals catapulted the defending World Series champs to the NLCS.

The next few games will determine this year’s World Series opponents, and all four teams are determined to fight it out. For the ALCS, Games 3 and 4 will take place in Detroit on Tuesday, October 16, and Wednesday, October 17, at 8:00 p.m. both nights. Detroit has the opportunity to earn their World Series berth in front of the home crowd with wins in these next two games. If additional games are needed, Game 5 will be played in Detroit with the rest of the series taking place in New York.

In the National League Championship Series, the Cardinals and Giants still have a long way to go in deciding a winner. Game 2 is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. on Monday, October 15, in San Francisco. St. Louis will then host Games 3 and 4 of the series, as well as a Game 5 if necessary.

Game 1 of the World Series is set to take place on Wednesday, October 24, with time and location to be determined by the outcome of the leagues’ championship series. Scattered tickets for some of the remaining games in the AL and NLCS are still available for those wishing to attend.