America’s pastime takes center stage this weekend starting Friday afternoon. This year the MLB postseason features a new format. The division winners with the best records in each league get a bye. The National League division winning Los Angeles Dodgers finished the season with a team record of 111 wins and the defending champs Atlanta Braves solidified their spot in the playoffs by sweeping the New York Mets in a three-game series last weekend. The American league division winners feature one of the most dominant teams over the last five years in the Houston Astros, and the New York Yankees who have all been witnesses to Aaron Judge’s historical season.
The wild card format has changed after 10 years with the exception of the covid shortened season; it is no longer a winner take all game; teams will be required to win two out of three. This format, with the two additional teams added in, was part of the collective bargaining agreement that delayed the beginning of the 2022 season.
First pitch in what is expected to be an entertaining postseason, will take place at 12:07 PM EST as the Tampa Bay Rays take on the Cleveland Guardians. All games will be televised and broadcasted across the ESPN/ABC networks, which include ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, ESPN Radio, and ESPN Deportes. The schedule for the wild card round will feature all eight teams (Tampa Bay Rays, Cleveland Guardians, Philadelphia Phillies, St Louis Cardinals, Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, and the New York Mets), playing three straight days if necessary.
In the new wild card format, all three games will be played at the higher seeds home stadium. There are plenty of storylines this postseason. Will the Cleveland Guardians be able to take out the post season regulars Tampa Bay Rays? Can the Phillies slow down the ageless wonder Albert Pujols? Can the Mariners win a series and get back to Seattle so that their faithful can finally revel in their post season return? And can the Mets stop their freefall and regain their footing against a Manny Machado led San Diego Padres team?
Who knows, that is why they play the games and that is why we love this time of the year.