Introduction: How Many Teams Will Make MLB Playoffs in 2022?
The Major League Baseball (MLB) playoffs are an exciting time for baseball fans across the world. Every year, teams from the American and National leagues compete to become one of the 10 teams that make the playoffs. The MLB playoffs are a single-elimination tournament that culminates with the World Series. In 2021, the MLB playoffs will include 10 teams – five from each league. But how many teams will make the MLB playoffs in 2022?
What is the Current MLB Playoff Format?
The current MLB playoff format is the same as it has been since 2012. The 10 teams that make the playoffs are the three divisional winners from each league, and two additional Wild Card teams from each league. The three divisional winners from each league receive an automatic berth in the playoffs. The two Wild Card teams from each league are the two teams with the best regular season record who didn’t win their division. The Wild Card teams play each other in a one-game playoff to determine who advances to the Divisional Series.
What is the Expansion Proposal?
In December 2020, MLB announced a proposal to expand the playoffs to 14 teams in 2022. The proposal would add an additional Wild Card team from each league, and the two Wild Card teams in each league would play a three-game series instead of a one-game playoff. The proposal was met with mixed reviews from players, coaches, and fans. Some argued that the proposal would dilute the playoffs and lessen the importance of the regular season, while others argued that the proposal would create more excitement and add more teams to the postseason.
What Will the 2022 MLB Playoffs Look Like?
At the moment, it is unclear how many teams will make the MLB playoffs in 2022. The proposal for expansion has not been approved yet, and it is possible that the playoffs will remain the same as they were in 2021. However, if the proposal is approved, the MLB playoffs in 2022 will consist of 14 teams – seven from each league. The seven teams would be the three divisional winners from each league, and four Wild Card teams from each league.
Pros and Cons of the Expansion Proposal
Pros
- More Exciting: The expansion would add more teams to the playoffs and create more excitement for the postseason. The Wild Card teams would play a three-game series instead of a one-game playoff, which would add more drama and excitement to the postseason.
- More Opportunities: The expansion would give more teams a chance to make the playoffs, which would give more teams the opportunity to compete for a championship. It would also give teams that don’t typically make the playoffs a chance to compete for a championship.
Cons
- Less Significant Regular Season: The expansion would make the regular season less significant, as the playoffs would include more teams and the Wild Card teams would have a better chance of making a deep run in the playoffs. This could lead to teams not trying as hard during the regular season.
- More Expensive: The expansion would be more expensive for MLB, as more teams would need to be paid for their postseason appearances. This could lead to higher ticket prices for fans and increased costs for the league.
What Is the Likely Outcome?
At the moment, it is unclear how many teams will make the MLB playoffs in 2022. The expansion proposal has not been approved yet, and it is possible that the playoffs will remain the same as they were in 2021. However, if the proposal is approved, the MLB playoffs in 2022 will consist of 14 teams – seven from each league.
What Are the Alternatives to Expansion?
If the proposal for expansion is not approved, there are other options for the MLB playoffs in 2022. The most likely alternative is to keep the current playoff format of 10 teams – five from each league. This would keep the regular season important and the playoffs competitive.
Another option is to keep the 10-team playoff format, but add a Wild Card play-in game. This would not require any changes to the playoff format, but would add an extra game for the Wild Card teams. This would give the Wild Card teams a chance to prove themselves in a one-game playoff before advancing to the Divisional Series.
Conclusion: How Many Teams Will Make MLB Playoffs in 2022?
At the moment, it is unclear how many teams will make the MLB playoffs in 2022. The proposal for expansion has not been approved yet, and it is possible that the playoffs will remain the same as they were in 2021. However, if the proposal is approved, the MLB playoffs in 2022 will consist of 14 teams – seven from each league. The decision on the expansion proposal will be made in the near future, and baseball fans across the world will be eagerly awaiting the outcome.
References
- MLB. (2020, December 11). MLB announces proposal to expand postseason in 2022. Retrieved from mlb.com/news/mlb-to-propose-2022-postseason-expansion
- Gleeman, A. (2020, December 11). MLB proposes expanding playoffs to 14 teams in 2022. Retrieved from cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-proposes-expanding-playoffs-to-14-teams-in-2022/