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Introduction to the New MLB Playoffs
The Major League Baseball (MLB) playoffs have undergone a major change in 2020. With the coronavirus pandemic forcing the league to shorten the regular season, the MLB has decided to expand the playoff field from 10 teams to 16. This new format for the MLB playoffs has been met with both enthusiasm and criticism. In this article, we’ll go over how the new MLB playoffs work and what it means for the league.
The Expansion of Teams
The MLB playoffs have traditionally consisted of 10 teams, with five teams from the American League (AL) and five teams from the National League (NL). With the new system, the playoff field has expanded to 16 teams. Under the new system, the top two teams in each division will automatically qualify for the playoffs, with the remaining four spots filled by the two teams with the best records in each league.
The Playoff Bracket
The playoff bracket will consist of eight teams from each league. The first round of the playoffs will feature a three-game series between the top two teams in each division in the AL and NL. The winners of these series will move on to the Divisional Round, which will feature a five-game series between the four remaining teams. The winners of the Divisional Round will move on to the Championship Series, which will consist of a seven-game series between the two remaining teams from each league. The winners of the Championship Series will move on to the World Series, which will consist of a seven-game series.
Wild Card Round
The first round of the playoffs, the Wild Card Round, will feature a three-game series between the top two teams in each division in the AL and NL. This means that teams with the best records in each league will not have to compete in the Wild Card Round. The winners of the Wild Card Round will move on to the Divisional Round.
Divisional Round
The Divisional Round of the playoffs will feature a five-game series between the four remaining teams. The two teams with the best records in each league will be seeded one and two, with the other two teams being seeded three and four. The winners of the Divisional Round will move on to the Championship Series.
Championship Series
The Championship Series will feature a seven-game series between the two remaining teams from each league. The winners of the Championship Series will move on to the World Series.
World Series
The World Series will consist of a seven-game series between the two teams that have advanced from the Championship Series. The World Series will be played at a neutral site, with the teams alternating home-field advantage.
Benefits of the New Format
The new MLB playoffs format has a number of benefits. The expanded playoff field means that more teams have a chance to make the postseason and compete for a championship. Additionally, the new format adds an element of excitement to the regular season, as teams will be fighting for the top spots in their divisions. Finally, the new format will provide a greater incentive for teams to sign high-profile free agents, as teams will be looking to improve their chances of making the playoffs.
Criticisms of the New Format
The new format has also been met with criticism. Some have argued that the expanded playoff field devalues the regular season, as teams with mediocre records will now have a chance to make the playoffs. Additionally, some have argued that the expanded playoff field will make it more difficult for teams to make a deep postseason run, as they will have to win a greater number of games to make it to the World Series.
Conclusion
The new MLB playoffs format is an exciting development for the league. The expanded playoff field provides more teams with a chance to compete for a championship and adds an element of excitement to the regular season. While there have been some criticisms of the new format, it is a development that is sure to be welcomed by fans of the league.