Major League Baseball (MLB) is one of the most popular sports leagues in the world. The league comprises 30 teams, which are divided into two leagues, the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The regular MLB season is a marathon that lasts for almost six months, starting in April and ending in late September or early October. This article will provide a complete guide on how many games are played in the MLB season.
The Structure of the MLB Season
The MLB season is divided into two parts: the regular season and the postseason. The regular season is a 162-game marathon that lasts for almost six months. During this time, each team plays a total of 162 games, with 81 games played at home and 81 games played on the road. The team with the best record in each league earns the top seed in the postseason, and the other teams qualify based on their win-loss records.
The Postseason
The postseason is a knockout tournament that determines the World Series champion. The postseason begins with the Wild Card game, which is a one-game playoff between two teams that did not win their respective divisions but have the best records among non-division winners. The winner of the Wild Card game advances to the Division Series, which is a best-of-five series. The winners of the Division Series advance to the League Championship Series, which is a best-of-seven series. The winners of the League Championship Series represent their respective leagues in the World Series, which is also a best-of-seven series.
How Many Games in Each Series
The number of games played in each series in the postseason varies. The Wild Card game is a one-game playoff, and the Division Series is a best-of-five series. The League Championship Series and the World Series are both best-of-seven series.
The Impact of COVID-19 on the MLB Season
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the 2020 MLB season. The season was shortened to 60 games, and the postseason was expanded to 16 teams. The Wild Card series was expanded to a best-of-three series, while the Division Series, League Championship Series, and World Series remained best-of-five and best-of-seven series, respectively.
The Future of the MLB Season
The MLB is constantly looking for ways to improve the game and make it more exciting for fans. One proposal that has been discussed is to expand the regular season to 154 games, which would reduce the number of games played by each team by eight. This proposal would also add another Wild Card team to each league, making the postseason even more exciting.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the MLB regular season is a 162-game marathon that lasts for almost six months. Each team plays 81 games at home and 81 games on the road. The postseason is a knockout tournament that determines the World Series champion, with the Wild Card game being a one-game playoff, the Division Series a best-of-five series, and the League Championship Series and World Series both being best-of-seven series. The impact of COVID-19 on the 2020 MLB season was significant, but the league is constantly looking for ways to improve the game and make it more exciting for fans.
FAQs
- Why does each team play 162 games in the MLB season?
- Each team plays 162 games in the MLB season to ensure that every team plays each other an equal number of times.
- How long is the MLB season?
- The MLB season lasts for almost six months, starting in April and ending in late September or early October.
- How many teams are in the MLB?
- There are 30 teams in the MLB, which are divided into two leagues, the American League and the National League.
- How is the postseason structured in the MLB?
- The postseason in the MLB is a knockout tournament that determines the World Series champion, with the Wild Card game being a one-game playoff, the Division Series a best-of-five series, and the League Championship Series and World Series both being best-of-seven series.
- What was the impact of COVID-19 on the 2020 MLB season?
- The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the 2020 MLB season, which was shortened to 60 games, and the postseason was expanded to 16 teams.