The 2022 MLB season is in the sprint to the finish line. When you’re not watching Albert Pujols attempt to blast over 700 career homers, or Aaron Judge try to set the American League homer record… or win the Triple Crown, it’s all about the playoff push. To keep you updated on the postseason rush, we’re laying out the playoff image every day from now through Game 162 on October 5, highlighting games that could end up making the difference.
What will the MLB playoff format look like in 2022?
First things first: You may recall that the team owners and players extended the postseason as part of the collective bargaining agreement that ended the lockout. There are now six teams from each league, three division winners and three wildcards. That means a new path to the World Series and different considerations to see how the races pan out.
When each league’s field is set, it will proceed like this:
Numbers 1 and 2 – the top two division winners – take part in the Division Series, a huge advantage. The other four teams will go head-to-head in a new three-game wildcard series, replacing the one-game wildcard showdowns played exclusively at the better seed’s park.
The division winner with the worst record will be No. 3 and host the No. 6, the wild card team with the worst record. The winner of this series will go up against the No. 2 seed regardless of which team comes out on top.
The two best wild cards, seeded numbers 4 and 5, play against each other. The winner advances to face the top seed.
From there things will look familiar. The Division Series will be the best of five. The league’s Championship Series and World Series will be best-of-seven, with the higher-seeded team having home field advantage by hosting Games 1, 2, 6 and 7.
There will be no tiebreaks in Game 163. Ties will be decided based on the teams’ head-to-head record. If that’s also a tie, the league would go through a procession of other records in the season to find a winner, starting with records within the division.
The story goes on
How about the playoff picture now?
If the season were over and the playoffs started Monday morning, this is what the table would look like when converted to the league bracket.
American League
No. 1 seeded: Houston Astros (AL West and top seeded)
No. 2 of the seed: New York Yankees (AL East and bye clinched)
Wild Card Series: #3 Cleveland Guardians (AL Central won) vs. #6 Tampa Bay Rays (postseason berth won)
Wild Card Streak: #4 Toronto Blue Jays (postseason berth secured) vs. #5 Seattle Mariners (postseason berth secured)
Bundesliga
No. 1 seeded: Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West and top seeded)
#2 of the seed: Atlanta Braves (earned postseason spot)
Wildcard Series: No. 3 St. Louis Cardinals (NL Central Clinch) vs. No. 6 Philadelphia Phillies
Wild Card Streak: #4 New York Mets (postseason berth secured) vs. #5 San Diego Padres (postseason berth secured)
Still in the running: Milwaukee Brewers (2nd wildcard backing)
Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates a lead-off home run in the second inning of a doubleheader baseball game against the Washington Nationals. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
What are the major races left?
With a decisive hit against the Mets, the Braves stand on the precipice of another late-running NL East crown. By defeating New York in one of the most anticipated series of the season, the Braves took control of the division overall and also the head-to-head tiebreaker. All they need now is a win or a Mets loss to secure the division title and crucial No. 2.
A similar picture emerges in the NL wildcard race, the only remaining in-or-out fight. The Phillies won a game on Brewers Sunday and are now a Brewers win or loss after stitching up the last playoff berth in question.
What are the important games on Monday?
Braves at Marlins, 6:40 ET: Fresh off that Mets dominant sweep, the Braves travel to Miami ready for a celebration. Rookie Bryce Elder, who scored a shutout last time out against the Nationals, will take over the ball for Brian Snitker.
Phillies at Astros, 8:10 ET: Not an easy draw for the Phillies as they try to finally punch their October ticket. The top-seeded Astros have little to play this week, but they won’t be easy for Philadelphia. Aaron Nola will lead the way and try to end the suspense tonight.