With the MLB regular season coming to a close, many fans are wondering how the playoffs work. How do teams qualify? How are they seeded? What is the format for the postseason? In this comprehensive guide, we will answer all of those questions and more! Let’s take a look at how the MLB playoffs work.
How do you qualify for MLB playoffs?
In order to qualify for the MLB playoffs, a team must secure one of the ten available spots during the regular season.
The MLB is split into two leagues. The American League and the National League. Each one has 15 teams, for a total of 30 MLB teams. In any case, each league has three divisions. The East, Central, and West Divisions. There are five teams in each division, with each division having the most games against each other.
The MLB regular season lasts 162 games. Each division leader is seeded into the playoffs after each team has played every one of its 162 games. In addition, the remaining two best teams get awarded a spot in the postseason. These are known as wild card teams.
In the postseason, the team with the best record gets to have the home field advantage whether it’s a knockout game, best-of-five, or best-of-seven series.
Since the 2018 season, determining home-field advantage in the World Series no longer relies on the all-star game and instead focuses on which team had the superior regular-season record.
How are MLB teams seeded during the postseason?
The seeding for the MLB playoffs is determined by how well teams performed 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.
What is the format for the postseason and how many rounds are there?
The postseason in MLB consists of four rounds. The first round is the wild card game, followed by the divisional series, then the league championship series, and finally the World Series. Let’s take a closer look at each one.
What Is The Wild Card Game?
This is a one-game playoff between the two wild card teams from each league. The winner advances to the next round, while the loser goes home.
What Are The Divisional Series?
These are best-of-five series between the four teams that qualified for playoffs from each division. The team with the best record in each series automatically moves on to the next round.
The League Championship Series Explained
This is a best-of-seven series that will determine which teams are going to compete in the World Series for a chance to win the ultimate MLB title of World Champions.
What Are The World Series In Baseball?
This is the final round of the MLB playoffs, and it is also a best-of-seven series between the two teams that won their respective League Championship Series. The first team to reach 4 wins is crowned World Champions.
How Will The Next MLB Playoffs Be Played?
The next MLB playoffs will begin on September 29th, 2022. If you’re a baseball fan or have always wanted to attend a game in person, now is your chance! The postseason format may be confusing at first glance but it’s actually quite simple once you get used to how everything works. So what are you waiting for? Go out there and start watching some games!
Could Baseball's Postseason Format Change?
There is always the potential for changes to MLB’s postseason format, but it is unclear what those changes may be. The league has considered expanding the playoffs to include more teams in recent years, but no final decisions have been made yet. Stay tuned for updates as they become available!
The Last Inning
We hope this guide has answered all of your questions about how the MLB playoffs work. We know that the different formats in each rounds kind of make it all confusing. For more information, be sure to check out our other baseball related blog articles.
