Major League Baseball’s World Series might wrap up in November this year, putting an end to the old “Mr. November” jokes. To address scheduling challenges, MLB introduced a flexible start date for the World Series last year to better manage the postseason schedule, which often compresses four rounds into a single month. If both teams finish the League Championship Series (LCS) within five games, the World Series start date could be pushed back by three days to avoid long downtime that can sap fan interest.
However, this flexible start did not come into play last season because although the New York Yankees won the American League Championship Series in five games, the required six games to finish the National League Championship Series. When MLB released the postseason schedule this year, they decided against using a flexible World Series start date due to logistical complications involving promotions, travel, and accommodations, opting instead for fixed dates.
This year’s World Series is set to kick off on Friday, October 24, with a potential Game 7 on Saturday, November 1. The postseason begins with the Wildcard round on Tuesday, September 30, followed by the Division Series on Saturday, October 4. The top two teams in each league earn a first-round bye and advance directly to the Division Series.
If the postseason starts as scheduled, the (68-51) would be the third seed in the National League behind the Milwaukee Brewers (74-44) and Philadelphia Phillies (69-49). The wildcard teams would be the Chicago Cubs (67-50), San Diego Padres (67-52), and New York Mets (63-55), meaning the and Mets would face off in this season’s wildcard round—a rematch of last year’s National League Championship Series.
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This story was first published by the Los Angeles Times.
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Fan Take: This schedule decision is significant for baseball fans because it ensures a streamlined postseason while maintaining the excitement and momentum of playoff baseball. For the sport, sticking to fixed dates might help with planning and promotion, but it could also mean less flexibility when series extend longer than expected, potentially impacting team rest and viewer engagement.
