MLB and the MLBPA reached an agreement just hours before the start of the pandemic shortened regular season that will see the number of playoff teams jump from 10 to 16. Here’s the details and crazy scenarios.
Remember that far-off land called June? Back then, Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association were squabbling over the economics that would allow a shortened season to be played. There was intrigue with dueling nasty letters between the sides and offers and counteroffers that had the sides talking past each other. That was then. This is now. Welcome to opening day of the 2020 MLB season that will see a 60-game shortened regular season. There will be no fans in the stands, fake crowd noise, increased digital ads in the field of play, and an assortment of rule changes that feature a universal designated hitter, a runner on second base at the start of the 10th inning if games go to extras and one-third of the schedule featuring interleague play. But what was lost out of the negotiations between the league and the MLBPA back in June was the prospect of expanded playoffs…. Or so we thought. Less than two hours before first-pitch for the nationally broadcast start to the season, the sides reached an agreement to expand the number of teams to make the postseason from 10 to 16. According to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, the owners have ratified the deal: Every team that is in first and second place in their divisions will make the postseason (6 divisions x 2 teams = 12) with the two teams with the best records in each league below those that had the best records in their divisions being added getting to the 16 teams.
