The MLB National League Wild Card and the American League Wild Card games are set. In the National League, the Chicago Cubs will take on the Pittsburgh Pirates, Wednesday. In the American League, the Houston Astros face the New York Yankees, Tuesday. This is a one game playoff. Major League Baseball adopted having two Wild Card teams in both leagues starting in 2012. This added more playoff teams in each league. Major League Baseball was right by adding another team but why should it be only a one game playoff?
Up until 2012, MLB had eight playoffs team, the six division winners plus the two Wild Card teams. They would all play in the Division Series in a best of five format. The two teams that were from the same division wouldn’t face each other. If teams were tied at the end of the season, then there was a one game playoff to decide who would go to the Division Series.
According to Yahoo sports, when asked about the one game Wild Card playoff, Commissioner Rob Manfred said, “If I’ve accomplished anything in the first months that I’ve been here, I hope it is that we have projected a willingness to evaluate and re-evaluate where we are on important topics. On this one, if in fact there is sentiment among the clubs that we have an issue here, we will take a hard look at it.”
Major League Baseball added two Wild Card teams hoping more teams would qualify for the playoffs. It has given teams a chance to play in the playoffs that otherwise wouldn’t make it. The problem is that a one game playoff isn’t fair. These teams play 162 games in the Major League season and have one game to keep their season alive.
MLB needs to change the Wild Card to a best two out of three series. It wouldn’t be difficult to change. They could format it like they do in the Pioneer League. The team with the worse record plays game one at home. Games two and three would be played at the home ballpark of the team with the better record. Every other round is a series. The Division Series is the best three out of five. The League Championship and World Series are the best four out of seven. Major League Baseball is slow to modify rules or even playoffs. This seems like an easy fix. Hopefully they will change the Wild Card round.
How should Major League Baseball change the Wild Card round?
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