MLB is going with a new playoff format for 2022 and beyond. It has been a summer of drama regarding baseball. Here is everything to know about the new postseason format and how it may affect your favorite team.
After five months of baseball, there are eighteen teams currently in possession of a playoff spot or within reach of one. The story of the season is the latest set of MLB rules that include 142 intraleague and twenty interleague games, which have made for exciting moments. Next year every team will see each other for at least two games. Though the big story is the formatting of the playoffs that will now include twelve teams and one more wild card spot in each league.
New MLB Playoff Format
The bracket-style postseason involves twelve teams, six from each league, increasing from the ten-game format previously used. This includes the three division winners in each league and three wild card teams. There are two extra wild card spots to fight for now, creating more competition. The number one and two seeds will receive first-round byes and advance directly to the wild division series.
Another change is that the single elimination wild card game, which was used from 2012 to 2021, will be replaced. A best of three wild card series has been put in starting this year. Each wild card series game will be played in the home park of the team with the higher seed. The games will be scheduled to take place in a three-day window. So the division winners with byes won’t wait long to start the division series. Therefore, winners of the wild card series will advance to the division series while the loser is eliminated.
More to Know
This new format creates a more competitive and even playing field. Those series are going to be fun to watch and might get the fans more interested. There may be some different teams this year because of the extra wild card. Right now, there are a lot of AL East and NL West teams in the mix for the extra spots. There is a month of the regular season left, so things might change before the playoffs.
Also, the division series will remain five games like usual. The league championship series and wild card series will remain the same. Something else to know about the new changes is that tie-breaker games, known as game 163, will be eliminated. Instead, all ties will be resolved by mathematical formula starting with head-to-head records. There is a chance that we see this new rule come into play soon.
It will be interesting to see how the new playoff format works out. The wild card and bracket style add some freshness to the game. Some adjustments will be made, but it is nice to see MLB trying something new. Stay tuned for more MLB playoff information.
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