The Major League Baseball (MLB) playoffs are an exciting culmination to the regular season, where the top-performing teams compete for the championship.
Occurring annually in October, this intense competition showcases the best of baseball talent and determines which team will ultimately be crowned as the World Series champion.
The structure of the playoffs can sometimes bewilder new fans. In recent years, the system has undergone changes and now consists of 12 teams – six from each league.
These teams are divided into three division winners and three Wild Card teams in each league. The MLB playoff format involves a series of rounds, including the Wild Card round, the Division Series, the League Championship Series, and finally, the World Series.
Understanding the nuances of the MLB playoff seeding is crucial for a rewarding viewing experience. Team performance throughout the regular season determines a team’s seeding and home-field advantage.
By familiarizing oneself with this thrilling close to the baseball season, fans can better appreciate the hard-fought battles and exhilarating moments that capture the essence of America’s pastime.
Contents
The Regular Season
Divisions and Leagues
Major League Baseball (MLB) is divided into two leagues, the American League (AL) and the National League (NL), and further divided into three divisions per league: East, Central, and West. This results in six divisions across MLB, each consisting of multiple teams.
Throughout the regular season, each team plays a total of 162 games, facing off with teams within their division, league, and interleague opponents. The goal is to achieve the best win-loss record within their division and league to secure a spot in the playoffs.
Win-Loss Records
Win-loss records are critical for determining postseason seeding and tiebreaking scenarios. Teams are ranked based on their overall win-loss record, with the team with the best record in each league automatically earning home-field advantage throughout the entire postseason.
There are several considerations for teams in the postseason hunt. Division winners are determined by the best win-loss record in each division, with the top two division winners in each league securing a first-round bye in the playoffs. Wild Card spots are awarded to the three remaining teams with the best win-loss records in each league that did not win their division.
In the case of ties in win-loss records, tiebreaking scenarios are used to determine rankings. If there is a tie for any of the divisional or wild-card positions, a one-game playoff will be held the day after the season to determine the team that advances.
Postseason Structure
The MLB postseason consists of four main stages, each featuring its own unique format and rules. These stages are the Wild Card Game, Division Series, Championship Series, and World Series.
Wild Card Game
In the current playoff format, there are a total of 12 teams that reach the postseason, with six from each league (American League and National League). This includes the three division winners in each league and three Wild Card teams per league. These Wild Card teams face off in a one-game showdown, where the winner advances to the Division Series.
Division Series
After the Wild Card Game, the remaining eight teams from both leagues enter the Division Series (ALDS and NLDS). This stage consists of four best-of-five series matchups, where the winners advance to the Championship Series. The teams are seeded according to regular-season standings, with the team that had the best record facing the Wild Card winner.
Championship Series
The winners of the Division Series in each league move on to the Championship Series (ALCS and NLCS). These series, featuring two teams from each league, are also best-of-seven matchups. The winners, one from the American League and one from the National League, become the league champions and secure their spots in the World Series.
World Series
The World Series is the grand finale of the MLB postseason. The American League and National League champions face off in a best-of-seven contest to determine the overall Major League Baseball champion. Home field advantage in the World Series is determined by the better regular-season record between the two competing teams.
Seeding and Home-Field Advantage
The seeding for the MLB playoffs is determined based on teams’ performance during the regular season. The team with the best record in each league automatically earns home-field advantage throughout the entire postseason. After that, the remaining teams are seeded based on their overall record.
One important aspect of the playoffs is home-field advantage. In the World Series, home-field advantage goes to the team with the higher regular-season winning percentage, regardless of whether the team is a Wild Card winner or Division winner. This also applies to the Division and Championship Series, with the higher seed retaining home-field advantage throughout these rounds.
In case the two teams vying for home-field advantage have identical regular-season records, the tiebreaker format consists of the head-to-head record, then intra-division record, and finally interdivision record. This ensures a fair determination of the team deserving the advantage of playing at their home venue during crucial games in the postseason.
Keep in mind that the seeding and home-field advantage system can change periodically, such as the introduction of new formats or expansion of the number of participating teams. Stay informed about the latest updates to ensure accurate understanding of the MLB playoffs landscape.
Tiebreakers in Baseball Playoffs
In Major League Baseball (MLB) playoffs, tiebreakers are necessary when two or more teams have the same win-loss record at the end of the regular season. Tiebreakers help determine the postseason seeding and which teams advance towards the playoffs.
Ties in the modern playoff format are typically resolved mathematically, with the head-to-head record being the first tiebreaker. This means that the team that won the majority of games in their direct matchups against a tied opponent takes precedence. For instance, if Team A and Team B both end the season with the same record and Team A has a better head-to-head record against Team B, Team A will be ranked higher in their division or wild-card standings.
However, if head-to-head records are also tied, further tiebreaking criteria are employed. These include:
- Division record: The team with a better win-loss record within their division takes precedence.
- Record in the final 81 games: If the division record is also tied, the team with a better record in the second half of the season gains the higher spot.
- Record in the final 82 games: If still tied, this criterion continues to expand backward one game at a time, considering the results of each additional game until the tie is broken.
In the past, tiebreaking games (known as Game 163) were held when two teams finished with identical records and playoff implications were at stake.
However, this practice has been eliminated, and all ties are now resolved by the aforementioned mathematical criteria.
Notable Postseason Moments
Throughout the history of baseball playoffs, several iconic and memorable events have taken place that have been etched in the minds of fans and players alike. These moments have shaped the game and made the postseason something that both players and fans anticipate with great excitement.
One such moment occurred during the 1956 World Series, when Don Larsen of the New York Yankees pitched the only in World Series history. This remarkable feat is remembered as a defining achievement in baseball.
In the 1988 World Series, Kirk Gibson of the Los Angeles Dodgers hit a historic and dramatic walk-off homerun in Game 1, despite being injured. This event became an inspiration to both fans and players, proving that impossible odds could be overcome with determination and belief.
Another unforgettable postseason moment took place during the 2004 American League Championship Series. The Boston Red Sox, who had been trailing the New York Yankees 3-0 in the best-of-seven series, made an unbelievable comeback to win four consecutive games, ultimately advancing to the World Series, and breaking the 86-year “Curse of the Bambino.”
More recently, the 2016 World Series saw the Chicago Cubs winning their first championship in 108 years, after battling their way through a thrilling seven-game series against the Cleveland Indians. The Cubs’ victory finally put an end to the longest championship route in North American sports history.
These notable postseason moments, along with many others, have contributed to the rich history of baseball, making the playoffs an integral part of the sport’s legacy and appeal.