Typically, the wild-card team plays the division leader with the best winning percentage in one series, and the other two division leaders play the other series. However, if the wild-card team and winningest division leader are from the same division, the wild-card team plays the next winningest division leader, and the other two division leaders play. In any event, the two series winners move on to the best-of-seven NLCS.
Since the NLDS's inception, the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros are the only team to have met more than twice, with the Braves winning the series each time.