The New MLB Playoff Format Is Going To Be Awesome

(graphic via MLB)

The 2022 MLB regular season is winding down. At the time that I am writing this blog, each team has one series remaining before the postseason begins, and in case you missed it, the league changed up the playoff format before the season started. Here are the big changes: 

- The top two division winners in each league receive an automatic bye to the ALDS/NLDS

- The Wild Card game is no more. Instead, the Wild Card Series will be best-of-3 with the higher seed hosting all three games

- Each league has added a Wild Card team, which means there are now 12 teams making the playoffs

- Tiebreaker games (aka Game 163) have been eliminated. All ties will be determined via head-to-head regular season record (this is the only thing I don't like)

Keep in mind that there is no re-seeding, and after the first round, the format is back to what we are used to (LDS: best-of-5, LCS and World Series: best-of-7)

Advertisement

With more teams involved this late in the season, the attendance at ballparks across the league have reflected that in a positive way (see above). And since each league has added a Wild Card spot, that has allowed the opportunity for a pair of teams out west to already clinch their playoff berth to end long postseason droughts:

We already have some great stories emerging in Seattle (last in the playoffs in 2001) and San Diego (2006 for a full season) as we enter October, while some familiar faces have clinched their playoff spots as well.

I am PSYCHED for this weekend's Wild Card Series. We are going to get four intense, best-of-3 series in the first crack at this new format.