349:
5. In both the AL and the NL, the three division champions were automatically given the top three seeds, seeded #1–3 based on record, and the wild-card was given the 4th seed regardless of record. In both the AL and the NL, the #1 seed played the #4 seed and the #2 seed played the #3 seed, unless the #1 and #4 seed were in the same division. Because teams from the same division couldn't play each other in the first round, if the normal matchups would cause this, then the #1 seed played the #3 seed, and the #2 seed played the #4 seed. In all cases, the top two seeds had home-field advantage.
440:, a joint syndication package between ABC and NBC. In order to increase viewership, all games were played in primetime at consistent times, and each affiliate of the network carrying the series could only air one of the games each night, determined by the station's area. While this prevented the issue of afternoon games (and did, as planned, increase viewership), the plan drew ire from critics for not allowing viewers to choose the games they want to watch during the post-season.
256:(this format being common in minor-league baseball). But because the two halves of the season were independent of one another, the winner of the first half had no real incentive to try to win the second half as well (since, unlike in the minor leagues, if the same team did win both halves it was not given a bye into the next round), and a team that won neither half could have actually had the best overall record in the division; indeed, the latter actually occurred, as the
387:
in consecutive days at neutral sites, with the usual 2–2–1 structure used to determine the designated home teams. When every team from the
Central divisions lost, it meant that all four Division Series matchups would feature teams from the same division playing each other (i.e. East playing East and West playing West), the first occasion of this happening since 1981.
452:
884:
892:
399:
season, only the two best division winners earn byes to the
Division Series. The wild card round was expanded to a best-of-three series and the winners of that round advance to the Division Series. In this round, the #1 seed faces the 4/5 winner, and the #2 seed plays the 3/6 winner; the bracket does
356:
was given another advantage. In addition to earning home-field advantage throughout the entire playoffs, they were allowed to choose their schedule for the series. They could either choose to have an extra day off (usually between games 1 and 2) during the series and start a day early, or start a day
432:
teams generally have to play on the road in the afternoon, when many of their fans are unable to watch the game because they are at work or school. Conversely, when games on the West Coast are played at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, many fans on the East Coast are unable to watch a game in its entirety, due
386:
postseason was modified from its usual format due to the temporary expansion of the playoffs for the 60-game regular season. After a best-of-three Wild Card Series, the winners of the 1/8 matchup faced the winners of the 4/5 matchup while the 2/7 faced the 3/6. Each of the four matchups were played
348:
The two division champions with the best regular-season records have been accorded with the home-field advantage, forcing the worst division winner to play an extra road game. Also, the format changed to a 2–2–1 layout with the team having home-field advantage hosting Games 1, 2, and (if necessary)
264:
had the two best won-lost records (in both halves of the season combined) in the
National League West and East respectively, with the Reds having the best overall winning percentage in all of Major League Baseball, yet neither advanced to the playoffs because they finished second in their divisions
297:
realigned, with the number of divisions in both increasing from two to three (adding a
Central Division, with fewer teams in each division). At the same time, the number of teams qualifying for baseball's postseason was doubled, from four to eight; henceforth the three first-place teams from each
373:
to advance. The winner of this game advanced to play the #1 seed in the league in the
Division Series, regardless of whether the two teams were in the same division. Because the format was added well after the regular season schedule was announced, the 2012 Division Series used a 2–3 format. From
334:
Originally, the East, Central, and West
Division champions rotated home-site priority, with two division winners getting the extra home game, and third one not having the extra game along with the wild-card team, who never had it. The 2–3 format was used in which the disadvantaged team hosted the
857:
528:
MLB's 1994 realignment to three divisions per league (East, Central and West) was paired with the creation of a Wild Card postseason spot in each league (giving the postseason an even number of teams) and a permanent version of the "quarterfinal," best-of-five
Division
339:
from 1969 to 1984. It also allowed the disadvantaged teams the unusual luxury of starting a series at home, and a guarantee that they play two games at home, whereas the advantaged team may play only one game at home if the series ends in a three-game sweep.
277:, the owners approved the reintroduction of the Division Series, this time on a permanent basis, given the fact that three of the four series in the one-off 1981 Division Series went to a game 5. Originally, the format called for the top team in the
265:
in each half. Until the 2012 format revision, this was the only
Division Series which actually consisted of teams from the same division playing each other. This particular Division Series was meant as a one-off series due to the strike.
357:
late, with one less off day (only having travel days off, between games 2 and 3, and if necessary 4 and 5). The
American League's best record received this option from 2007–2009 and the National League's best record received it in 2010.
302:
team from each league (the latter being the second-place finisher with the best regular-season record). However, this expanded playoff format did not return until the following year, because a players'
335:
first two games, and the team with the advantage hosted the remaining game(s). This made it impossible for the disadvantaged team to clinch the series at home. A similar format had been used for the
170:
165:
831:
433:
to work or school the next day and games ending around 1 a.m. ET/10 p.m. PT, while most West Coast fans are able to watch the entire game as it will not end as late on the West Coast.
436:
However, in 1995, (as aforementioned, the 1994 series was not played due to the strike), the
Division and League Championship Series was aired by the league's television operation,
1389:
1150:
804:
698:
1425:
160:
674:
196:
155:
146:
1415:
540:
582:
1410:
1216:
977:
327:; however, both the method of awarding home-field advantage in the series and which games the team getting the advantage would host were changed in
113:
104:
248:, that season was divided into two halves, with the winners of each half from each division (West and East at the time) playing one another in a
465:
408:
There has been some criticism on how Major League Baseball schedules Division Series games. Teams with large national fan followings like the
370:
1376:
1371:
1366:
1361:
1356:
1351:
1346:
1341:
1336:
1331:
1326:
1321:
1316:
1311:
1306:
1293:
1288:
1283:
1278:
1273:
1268:
1263:
1258:
1253:
1248:
1243:
1238:
1233:
1228:
1223:
1203:
1137:
1132:
1127:
1122:
1117:
1112:
1107:
1102:
1097:
1092:
1087:
1082:
1077:
1072:
1067:
1054:
1049:
1044:
1039:
1034:
1029:
1024:
1019:
1014:
1009:
1004:
999:
994:
989:
984:
964:
656:
353:
109:
100:
189:
396:
383:
366:
312:
304:
286:
274:
245:
241:
1420:
480:
417:
221:
38:
1192:
953:
475:
470:
429:
261:
82:
77:
1183:
944:
544:
132:
137:
182:
747:
257:
490:
336:
290:
253:
229:
91:
917:
836:
615:
218:
369:, which added a second wild-card team for each league. The two wild card teams in each league played a
437:
324:
282:
278:
249:
699:"2022 MLB playoffs: New postseason format explained, and why there are no more Game 163 tiebreakers"
1176:
937:
675:"MLB playoff picture: Bracket, standings, new format explained with 12-team postseason field set"
299:
755:
590:
557:
511:
421:
308:
485:
409:
328:
45:
457:
425:
294:
225:
307:, which began on August 12, 1994, led to the cancellation of that season's playoffs and
17:
1404:
1169:
930:
214:
123:
1161:
922:
722:
583:"BASEBALL: NOTEBOOK; 3 Playoff Teams Are Packed Up and Ready to Go, but to Where?"
779:
832:"Blame it on TV — but not always Baseball, too, wants top draw for prime time"
638:
447:
413:
759:
594:
315:
regular season to have 18 fewer games for each team than the standard 162 ).
374:
2013 to 2021, the Division Series used the 2–2–1 format previously used.
809:
642:
395:
With the expansion of the postseason to six teams per league since the
269:
1993–1994: Proposal, realignment, and cancellation of 1994 postseason
59:
54:
1165:
926:
298:
league's divisions would reach the postseason, along with one
224:. Four series are played in this round, two each for both the
885:"Baseball strikes out - again Series: TV / RADIO; FANFARE"
252:
to decide which team would represent that division in the
365:
A revised playoff system was utilized beginning with the
748:"Baseball's Postseason Is Evolving, for Better or Worse"
352:
From 2007–2011, the #1 seed of the league that won the
240:
The first use of the term "Division Series" dates from
616:"Change in Playoff Format Becomes a Matter of Record"
512:"Complete history of baseball's postseason formats"
323:Since its inception, the Division Series has been
858:"TV'S COVERAGE OF PLAYOFFS A 'WHO'S ON?' ROUTINE"
657:"Addition of Wild Card berths finalized for 2012"
780:"Everything you need to know about '22 season"
1177:
938:
190:
8:
541:Owner Approve to Expand Playoffs to 8 teams
1184:
1170:
1162:
945:
931:
923:
197:
183:
29:
510:Castrovince, Anthony (October 4, 2022).
502:
412:are almost always scheduled to play in
145:
122:
90:
67:
44:
37:
1426:Annual events in Major League Baseball
805:"Mailbag: Was Penny the right choice?"
723:"New MLB postseason format, explained"
918:Top 7 :: Division Series Moments
7:
1416:Recurring events established in 1995
883:Hooper, Ernest (29 September 1994).
614:Archives, L. A. Times (1998-03-20).
244:, when due to a mid-season players'
27:Quarterfinals of the MLB postseason
281:to play the 2nd place team in the
25:
655:Bloom, Barry M. (March 2, 2012).
558:"Baseball Changes Playoff Format"
1411:Major League Baseball postseason
450:
39:Major League Baseball postseason
1193:National League Division Series
954:American League Division Series
476:National League Division Series
471:American League Division Series
319:1995–1997: Pre-arranged seeding
545:The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
133:List of World Series champions
1:
830:Kroner, Steve (2005-10-14).
746:Kepner, Tyler (2022-10-06).
639:2010 MLB Postseason Schedule
581:Chass, Murray (1998-09-20).
1442:
803:Street, Jim (2006-10-04).
491:League Championship Series
337:League Championship Series
254:League Championship Series
92:League Championship Series
1385:
1302:
1212:
1199:
1146:
1063:
973:
960:
424:to generate the highest
1421:October sporting events
862:Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
837:San Francisco Chronicle
518:. Major League Baseball
404:Criticism of scheduling
33:Part of a series on the
18:League Division Series
219:Major League Baseball
138:Commissioner's Trophy
889:St. Petersburg Times
466:MLB division winners
438:The Baseball Network
895:on February 1, 2013
285:and vice versa. In
262:St. Louis Cardinals
250:best-of-five series
752:The New York Times
587:The New York Times
1398:
1397:
1159:
1158:
620:Los Angeles Times
207:
206:
16:(Redirected from
1433:
1219:
1186:
1179:
1172:
1163:
980:
947:
940:
933:
924:
905:
904:
902:
900:
891:. Archived from
880:
874:
873:
871:
869:
864:. 1 October 1995
854:
848:
847:
845:
844:
827:
821:
820:
818:
817:
800:
794:
793:
791:
790:
776:
770:
769:
767:
766:
743:
737:
736:
734:
733:
719:
713:
712:
710:
709:
695:
689:
688:
686:
685:
671:
665:
664:
652:
646:
636:
630:
629:
627:
626:
611:
605:
604:
602:
601:
578:
572:
571:
569:
568:
554:
548:
538:
532:
531:
525:
523:
507:
486:Wild Card Series
460:
455:
454:
453:
410:New York Yankees
371:one game playoff
311:(and caused the
199:
192:
185:
46:Wild Card Series
30:
21:
1441:
1440:
1436:
1435:
1434:
1432:
1431:
1430:
1401:
1400:
1399:
1394:
1381:
1298:
1217:
1208:
1195:
1190:
1160:
1155:
1142:
1059:
978:
969:
956:
951:
914:
909:
908:
898:
896:
882:
881:
877:
867:
865:
856:
855:
851:
842:
840:
829:
828:
824:
815:
813:
802:
801:
797:
788:
786:
778:
777:
773:
764:
762:
745:
744:
740:
731:
729:
721:
720:
716:
707:
705:
697:
696:
692:
683:
681:
673:
672:
668:
654:
653:
649:
637:
633:
624:
622:
613:
612:
608:
599:
597:
580:
579:
575:
566:
564:
556:
555:
551:
539:
535:
521:
519:
509:
508:
504:
499:
458:Baseball portal
456:
451:
449:
446:
428:. As a result,
406:
393:
380:
363:
361:2012–2019, 2021
346:
321:
295:American League
291:National League
271:
258:Cincinnati Reds
238:
230:National League
226:American League
211:Division Series
203:
108:
69:Division Series
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1439:
1437:
1429:
1428:
1423:
1418:
1413:
1403:
1402:
1396:
1395:
1393:
1392:
1386:
1383:
1382:
1380:
1379:
1374:
1369:
1364:
1359:
1354:
1349:
1344:
1339:
1334:
1329:
1324:
1319:
1314:
1309:
1303:
1300:
1299:
1297:
1296:
1291:
1286:
1281:
1276:
1271:
1266:
1261:
1256:
1251:
1246:
1241:
1236:
1231:
1226:
1221:
1213:
1210:
1209:
1207:
1206:
1200:
1197:
1196:
1191:
1189:
1188:
1181:
1174:
1166:
1157:
1156:
1154:
1153:
1147:
1144:
1143:
1141:
1140:
1135:
1130:
1125:
1120:
1115:
1110:
1105:
1100:
1095:
1090:
1085:
1080:
1075:
1070:
1064:
1061:
1060:
1058:
1057:
1052:
1047:
1042:
1037:
1032:
1027:
1022:
1017:
1012:
1007:
1002:
997:
992:
987:
982:
974:
971:
970:
968:
967:
961:
958:
957:
952:
950:
949:
942:
935:
927:
921:
920:
913:
912:External links
910:
907:
906:
875:
849:
822:
795:
771:
738:
714:
690:
666:
647:
631:
606:
573:
549:
533:
501:
500:
498:
495:
494:
493:
488:
483:
481:MLB postseason
478:
473:
468:
462:
461:
445:
442:
405:
402:
392:
389:
379:
376:
362:
359:
345:
342:
320:
317:
270:
267:
237:
234:
205:
204:
202:
201:
194:
187:
179:
176:
175:
174:
173:
168:
163:
158:
150:
149:
143:
142:
141:
140:
135:
127:
126:
120:
119:
118:
117:
95:
94:
88:
87:
86:
85:
80:
72:
71:
65:
64:
63:
62:
57:
49:
48:
42:
41:
35:
34:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1438:
1427:
1424:
1422:
1419:
1417:
1414:
1412:
1409:
1408:
1406:
1391:
1388:
1387:
1384:
1378:
1375:
1373:
1370:
1368:
1365:
1363:
1360:
1358:
1355:
1353:
1350:
1348:
1345:
1343:
1340:
1338:
1335:
1333:
1330:
1328:
1325:
1323:
1320:
1318:
1315:
1313:
1310:
1308:
1305:
1304:
1301:
1295:
1292:
1290:
1287:
1285:
1282:
1280:
1277:
1275:
1272:
1270:
1267:
1265:
1262:
1260:
1257:
1255:
1252:
1250:
1247:
1245:
1242:
1240:
1237:
1235:
1232:
1230:
1227:
1225:
1222:
1220:
1215:
1214:
1211:
1205:
1202:
1201:
1198:
1194:
1187:
1182:
1180:
1175:
1173:
1168:
1167:
1164:
1152:
1149:
1148:
1145:
1139:
1136:
1134:
1131:
1129:
1126:
1124:
1121:
1119:
1116:
1114:
1111:
1109:
1106:
1104:
1101:
1099:
1096:
1094:
1091:
1089:
1086:
1084:
1081:
1079:
1076:
1074:
1071:
1069:
1066:
1065:
1062:
1056:
1053:
1051:
1048:
1046:
1043:
1041:
1038:
1036:
1033:
1031:
1028:
1026:
1023:
1021:
1018:
1016:
1013:
1011:
1008:
1006:
1003:
1001:
998:
996:
993:
991:
988:
986:
983:
981:
976:
975:
972:
966:
963:
962:
959:
955:
948:
943:
941:
936:
934:
929:
928:
925:
919:
916:
915:
911:
894:
890:
886:
879:
876:
863:
859:
853:
850:
839:
838:
833:
826:
823:
812:
811:
806:
799:
796:
785:
781:
775:
772:
761:
757:
753:
749:
742:
739:
728:
724:
718:
715:
704:
703:CBSSports.com
700:
694:
691:
680:
679:CBSSports.com
676:
670:
667:
662:
658:
651:
648:
645:
644:
640:
635:
632:
621:
617:
610:
607:
596:
592:
588:
584:
577:
574:
563:
559:
553:
550:
547:
546:
542:
537:
534:
530:
517:
513:
506:
503:
496:
492:
489:
487:
484:
482:
479:
477:
474:
472:
469:
467:
464:
463:
459:
448:
443:
441:
439:
434:
431:
427:
423:
419:
415:
411:
403:
401:
400:not re-seed.
398:
390:
388:
385:
377:
375:
372:
368:
360:
358:
355:
354:All-Star Game
350:
343:
341:
338:
332:
330:
326:
318:
316:
314:
310:
306:
301:
296:
292:
288:
284:
280:
276:
268:
266:
263:
259:
255:
251:
247:
243:
235:
233:
231:
227:
223:
220:
217:round of the
216:
212:
200:
195:
193:
188:
186:
181:
180:
178:
177:
172:
169:
167:
164:
162:
159:
157:
154:
153:
152:
151:
148:
144:
139:
136:
134:
131:
130:
129:
128:
125:
121:
115:
111:
106:
102:
99:
98:
97:
96:
93:
89:
84:
81:
79:
76:
75:
74:
73:
70:
66:
61:
58:
56:
53:
52:
51:
50:
47:
43:
40:
36:
32:
31:
19:
1390:Broadcasters
1151:Broadcasters
897:. Retrieved
893:the original
888:
878:
866:. Retrieved
861:
852:
841:. Retrieved
835:
825:
814:. Retrieved
808:
798:
787:. Retrieved
783:
774:
763:. Retrieved
751:
741:
730:. Retrieved
726:
717:
706:. Retrieved
702:
693:
682:. Retrieved
678:
669:
660:
650:
641:
634:
623:. Retrieved
619:
609:
598:. Retrieved
586:
576:
565:. Retrieved
561:
552:
543:
536:
527:
520:. Retrieved
515:
505:
435:
407:
394:
381:
364:
351:
347:
333:
325:best-of-five
322:
309:World Series
272:
239:
215:quarterfinal
210:
208:
124:World Series
114:Winners list
105:Winners list
68:
367:2012 season
289:, both the
236:1981 season
156:Appearances
1405:Categories
843:2006-10-07
816:2006-10-07
789:2022-03-10
765:2023-03-09
732:2023-03-09
708:2023-01-23
684:2023-01-02
625:2023-03-09
600:2023-03-09
567:2021-04-08
497:References
430:West Coast
426:TV ratings
416:at 8 p.m.
414:prime time
391:Since 2022
222:postseason
760:0362-4331
595:0362-4331
522:March 14,
344:1998–2011
300:wild card
444:See also
420:/5 p.m.
293:and the
260:and the
228:and the
171:Droughts
810:MLB.com
784:MLB.com
727:MLB.com
661:MLB.com
643:MLB.com
562:AP NEWS
529:Series.
516:mlb.com
283:AL West
279:AL East
213:is the
166:Streaks
899:31 May
868:31 May
758:
593:
305:strike
246:strike
161:Series
147:Teams
60:NLWCS
55:ALWCS
1377:2024
1372:2023
1367:2022
1362:2021
1357:2020
1352:2019
1347:2018
1342:2017
1337:2016
1332:2015
1327:2014
1322:2013
1317:2012
1312:2011
1307:2010
1294:2009
1289:2008
1284:2007
1279:2006
1274:2005
1269:2004
1264:2003
1259:2002
1254:2001
1249:2000
1244:1999
1239:1998
1234:1997
1229:1996
1224:1995
1218:1994
1204:1981
1138:2024
1133:2023
1128:2022
1123:2021
1118:2020
1113:2019
1108:2018
1103:2017
1098:2016
1093:2015
1088:2014
1083:2013
1078:2012
1073:2011
1068:2010
1055:2009
1050:2008
1045:2007
1040:2006
1035:2005
1030:2004
1025:2003
1020:2002
1015:2001
1010:2000
1005:1999
1000:1998
995:1997
990:1996
985:1995
979:1994
965:1981
901:2011
870:2011
756:ISSN
591:ISSN
524:2023
397:2022
384:2020
382:The
378:2020
329:1998
313:1995
287:1994
275:1993
242:1981
209:The
110:NLCS
101:ALCS
83:NLDS
78:ALDS
273:In
1407::
887:.
860:.
834:.
807:.
782:.
754:.
750:.
725:.
701:.
677:.
659:.
618:.
589:.
585:.
560:.
526:.
514:.
422:PT
418:ET
331:.
232:.
1185:e
1178:t
1171:v
946:e
939:t
932:v
903:.
872:.
846:.
819:.
792:.
768:.
735:.
711:.
687:.
663:.
628:.
603:.
570:.
198:e
191:t
184:v
116:)
112:(
107:)
103:(
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.