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The Angels’ chances of making the postseason just got a lot better. Per multiple reports, Major League Baseball will be expanding the playoffs to 16 teams for the 2020 season.
The union has approved the agreement discussed with MLB for expanded playoffs, only for the 2020 postseason; that agreement is now subject only to ratification by the owners, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/HFmaEQ8Npk
— Marly Rivera (@MarlyRiveraESPN) July 23, 2020
According to the tweet, it’s only for the 2020 postseason...... for now.
Instead of 10 teams making it, there will be six more, three addition teams from each league. The winner-take-all wildcard game will no no more, and the opening round will consist of a best-of-3 format. That’s right. A three-game series in the first round.
After that, it’ll go back to how the division series normally goes, where it’ll be a best-of-5. Then seven games in the championship series and seven games in the World Series.
Now, I know what you’re asking, how are they determining the 16 teams?
Interesting wrinkle in the 16-team playoff format: All second-place teams in the six divisions qualify. Then the 7th and 8th teams will be chosen by best record among other teams.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 23, 2020
So if you finish in first or second in your division, you make the playoffs. There’s where they’ll get 12 of the teams. The others will be determined based on records from the teams that finish between third and fifth in their respected divisions. So essentially, if one division is just stacked and everyone has a decent record, we could potentially see a team who finished fourth in their division make the postseason.
Seeds 1-3 will go to the division winners based on record.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 23, 2020
Seeds 4-6 will go to the runners-up based on record.
Seeds 7 and 8 will be based on record.
Thus, there is a possibility the third-best division winner actually plays a worse team than the two best division winners.
For teams like the Angels, this is great news. They weren’t projected to make the playoffs by a lot of websites and analysts, but now they have a great opportunity. Now, instead of winning the A.L. West, they only need to come in second or even third place.
MLBPA and MLB have agreed on a $50 million postseason bonus pool for players with 16 teams for this year. In negotiations last month, MLB offered $25 million. Players have voted, now up to owners to ratify.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) July 23, 2020