Baseball fans enjoyed the unlikely postseason run by the 86-win Detroit Tigers. That team was one win short of making the AL Championship Series despite a mediocre performance for four and a half months.
Luckily for the Tigers, the team only needed a hot stretch over about a six week period to slide their way into the playoffs. But is that the right way to run the tournament of champions in a professional league?
The expanded Major League Baseball playoff system, which began in 2022, includes six teams from each league—the three division winners and three Wild Card teams. This structure has added a new dynamic to the postseason landscape by increasing the number of participants from 10 to 12. The top two division winners in each league earn a first-round bye, while the remaining four teams compete in a best-of-three Wild Card series. This format aims to increase competitiveness, but it has sparked debate about whether it truly benefits the sport.
Compared to other major North American sports leagues, the MLB's system offers a unique approach. The NFL expanded its playoff format to 14 teams in 2020, also allowing seven teams per conference to compete. Like MLB, the NFL rewards the top seed with a bye in the first round, creating a competitive incentive for teams to push for the best regular-season record. However, the NFL's 17-game season is shorter, giving each game more weight and making it challenging for weaker teams to sneak into the playoffs.
In contrast
The National Basketball Association and National Hockey League both allow 16 teams into the playoffs, representing more than half of each league. The NBA and NHL regular seasons span 82 games, and the lower-seeded teams face uphill battles to advance in the best-of-seven series. In these leagues, upsets are rare, as dominant teams often prevail due to the extended format. As a result, many argue that the higher number of playoff spots leads to lower regular-season significance.
MLB's six-team-per-league format balances expanding the field while trying to preserve regular-season value. On one hand, adding more teams creates excitement by increasing the number of markets with postseason hopes late in the season, boosting fan engagement. It also gives teams that start slow or deal with injuries early in the season a realistic path to the playoffs. This inclusiveness resembles the NFL approach, where even a 9-8 team can make the postseason.
However, some criticize the expanded MLB format for allowing too many mediocre teams to reach the playoffs, potentially diluting the competition. When teams with records barely above .500 make it, it raises questions about whether the regular season is losing importance. Baseball purists argue that 162 games should determine the best teams, and including borderline playoff teams could water down the quality of postseason matchups.
The structure also creates potential disadvantages for higher-seeded teams
A team that earns a first-round bye may face a red-hot lower-seeded opponent that just won a Wild Card series. In contrast, the NFL’s bye week is often considered an advantage due to the physical nature of the sport, where rest can be more beneficial than in baseball. Meanwhile, the NBA and NHL do not feature byes, ensuring that all teams are on a more level playing field when the playoffs start.
Whether the expanded MLB playoffs are "fair" depends on perspective. It adds a layer of excitement and provides more teams with hope, similar to the NFL. But with fewer than half the league making the playoffs, the system still rewards stronger regular-season performances better than the NBA and NHL formats. While some may view it as letting in too many mediocre teams, the format also delivers unpredictability, which can be a positive draw for fans seeking a thrilling postseason.
