Everything you need to know about MLB's expanded 16-team playoff format.
MLB's shortened 2020 season has been unlike any other in history, and even the postseason format will look strikingly different this year.
To adjust to the coronavirus pandemic, the league cut down the regular season to only 60 games built around regional-based schedules. With the changes came an expanded 16-team playoff format instead of the usual 10-team structure. Eight teams from the American League and eight teams from the National League will reach the postseason.
How Will Postseason Teams be Seeded?
The top three seeds (Nos. 1-3) in each league will be given to the three division winners (East, Central, West) based on their records.
The next three seeds (Nos. 4-6) will go to each division's second-place teams, while the final two seeds (Nos. 7-8) will be assigned to the two teams with the next best records. Those final two qualifiers will be considered the "wild card" teams and chosen regardless of their division and division standing.
How Many Rounds Are in the New Format?
There will still be four postseason rounds, but the division winners will not sit out while the wild card teams play in a sudden-death game.
- Wild Card Series (best-of-three): All games will be played at the higher seeding's ballpark following this structure: No. 1 seed vs. No. 8, No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6, and No. 4 vs. No. 5.
- Division Series (best-of-five): Winner of 1-8 vs. winner of 4-5, Winner of 2-7 vs. winner of 3-6. The higher seed will have home field advantage, and the series will follow the traditional 2-2-1 home/road format.
- League Championship Series (best-of-seven): Winner of 1-4-5-8 vs. winner of 2-3-6-7. The higher seed will have home field advantage, and the series will follow the traditional 2-3-2 home/road format.
- World Series (best-of-seven): AL champion vs. NL champion. The team with the best regular-season record will have home field advantage, and the series will follow the traditional 2-3-2 home/road format.
Will This Expanded Format Continue in Future Posteasons?
MLB implemented the expanded playoff format only for 2020. Some of the rule changes added in the 2020 regular season will be used in the playoffs, such as the universal designated hitter and three-batter minimum. However, extra innings in the playoffs will not begin with a runner on second base.
When Does the Postseason Start?
The wild card series, or the first round, is set to begin on Sept. 29 and run through Oct. 2.
Playoff Standings:
Last updated Sept. 11, noon ET
American League:
- Athletics (AL West winner): 27–15
- Rays (AL East winner): 28–16
- White Sox (AL Central winner): 27–16
- Twins: 27–18
- Blue Jays: 24–19
- Astros: 22–23
- Indians: 26–18
- Yankees: 22–21
National League:
- Dodgers (NL West winner): 32–13
- Braves (NL East winner): 26–18
- Cubs (NL Central winner): 26–19
- Padres: 29–17
- Phillies: 21–19
- Cardinals: 19–18
- Marlins: 20–19
- Giants: 23–22