Major League Baseball Announces Revolutionary Changes to Playoff Format for 2025 Season

February 26, 2025

In a landmark decision that is expected to reshape the postseason landscape, Major League Baseball (MLB) has unveiled a revolutionary change to its playoff format for the 2025 season. On February 26, 2025, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that the league would be expanding the postseason field, adding more teams and restructuring how playoff matchups are determined. The move aims to increase excitement, enhance competition, and make the postseason more accessible for teams across both the American and National Leagues.

The new playoff system will feature 12 teams—up from the current 10—creating an expanded bracket that includes additional wild-card teams. Under the revised format, the top division winner in each league will receive a bye in the opening round, while the remaining teams will compete in a best-of-three series to determine the final spots in the Division Series. This new system is designed to give more teams a chance to compete for the World Series, while still rewarding division champions with a first-round advantage.

“We believe this change will make the playoff race more exciting and give more fans and cities the opportunity to experience October baseball,” said Commissioner Manfred. “It’s an important step forward in making our postseason more inclusive, competitive, and engaging for baseball fans everywhere.”

The new system also includes the introduction of a “wild-card tournament” between the third and fourth-best division winners in each league. The teams finishing in these positions will face off in a three-game series to determine who advances to the Division Series. This adjustment will heighten the intensity of the late-season playoff race, as even teams finishing second or third in their divisions will now have a chance to fight for a spot in the postseason.

In addition to the changes in playoff structure, MLB has also announced that teams will now have more flexibility when it comes to rest periods and game scheduling during the postseason. The adjustments will help prevent long breaks between games and allow the series to maintain its momentum, keeping fans engaged throughout the entirety of the playoffs.

“The goal is to create more opportunities for teams to earn a postseason berth while also ensuring that the competition remains intense and meaningful,” Manfred explained. “We’re looking forward to seeing how this new format unfolds and how it impacts the overall excitement of the postseason.”

The expansion of the playoff field is part of a broader effort by MLB to increase fan engagement, boost television ratings, and make the league more dynamic in an era of increasing competition from other sports and entertainment options. By allowing more teams into the playoff mix, MLB hopes to engage fan bases from a wider array of cities and regions, encouraging more interest in the postseason.

This shift follows the successful introduction of the expanded playoff format in 2020, which included a temporary expansion due to the shortened season. However, the new system announced for 2025 will be permanent, and it reflects an ongoing commitment by MLB to adapt to the evolving needs and desires of its fans.

The changes have already generated excitement among teams, with many seeing the new playoff structure as an opportunity to build momentum and deepen their playoff aspirations. In particular, teams that have historically been on the bubble for postseason spots are now looking forward to the opportunity for a fresh start and a chance to make a deeper playoff run.

Critics of the new system argue that the expansion dilutes the prestige of the regular season and gives an advantage to wild-card teams, but supporters say that more playoff teams will increase the drama and unpredictability of the postseason.

As MLB heads into the 2025 season, the new playoff format is set to take center stage, with fans eagerly awaiting the start of what promises to be an even more exciting and competitive October baseball experience. The expansion is expected to invigorate the league, as the path to the World Series becomes wider and more teams fight for a shot at the ultimate prize in baseball.