Due to a mid-season players' strike, the season was divided into a first half and a second half. The division winner of each half played each other in a five-game divisional series. The Cincinnati Reds, despite having the best overall record during the season, finished 2nd in both halves, so did not qualify for the post-season.
LDS
LCS
World Series
NYY 3
MIL 2
OAK 3
KC 0
LAD 3
HOU 2
PHI 2
MTL 3
OAK 0
NYY 3
MTL 2
LAD 3
LAD 4
NYY 2
Los Angeles Dodgers - 1981 MLB Playoffs Logo
Champ
LAD
1981 MLB Champion Los Angeles Dodgers
z: best record, c: conference winner, y: division winner, w: wildcard, x: clinched playoff spot

NLDS

Best of 5-game series
Date    OpponentResultScoreSeries
10/6at HoustonL  1-3 0-1
10/7at HoustonL  0-1
11
0-2
10/9vs HoustonW  6-1 1-2
10/10vs HoustonW  2-1 2-2
10/11vs HoustonW  4-0 3-2

NLCS

Best of 5-game series
Date    OpponentResultScoreSeries
10/13vs MontrealW  5-1 1-0
10/14vs MontrealL  0-3 1-1
10/16at MontrealL  1-4 1-2
10/17at MontrealW  7-1 2-2
10/19at MontrealW  2-1 3-2

World Series

Best of 7-game series
Date    OpponentResultScoreSeries
10/20at NY YankeesL  3-5 0-1
10/21at NY YankeesL  0-3 0-2
10/23vs NY YankeesW  5-4 1-2
10/24vs NY YankeesW  8-7 2-2
10/25vs NY YankeesW  2-1 3-2
10/28at NY YankeesW  9-2 4-2