How to Determine MLB Postseason Seeding

Last Updated: February 5, 2020 References

Are you trying to determine the team that your team is playing in the MLB postseason? Look no further than this article. This article will tell you how to determine the team that your team will be playing next.

Part 1

Part 1 of 5:
Divisional Champions During Regular Season

1
Allow all of the 30 teams to play all their games. Keep track of their wins and losses in the standings. Remember: a win for one team, is a loss for another. There are no games that will ever end in a tie for professional baseball. However, though unlikely, if two teams in the same division end up tied with identical win/loss records at the end of the 162 game season, one extra game is played to determine the division winner.^{[1]
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2
Understand that the teams with the best record in each division are then recorded.

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3
Select a division winner. There are three divisions in each league (East, Central and West). The teams with the best record in each division earn the right to use the top playoff spot.^{[2]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 5:
Wild Card Playoff

1
Determine the two wild card teams from each league. These are the two teams from both the American and National League, other than the division winners, with the best records in their league. These teams are "runners-up".^{[3]
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2
Understand that these two teams play only one game; it is at the home of the team with the slightly-better record.^{[4]
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3
Determine the wild card team for the league. The team who wins at the end of this game, is deemed to be the Wild card team for the league.

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Part 3

Part 3 of 5:
Division Series: American League AND National League (ALDS/NLDS)

1
Realize that the winner of the Wild Card playoff game will face the team that has the best record in that league.^{[5]
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2
Understand that the other two division winners also play each other in this round.^{[6]
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3
Understand that the Division Series requires a minimum of three games. 'The first team that racks up three games in the series, advances to the next round. Eventually, by the end of a maximum of 5 games, one of those teams will have 3 wins in the series, and advance to the League Championship Series..

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Part 4

Part 4 of 5:
Championship Series: American League AND National League (ALCS/NLCS)

1
Determine the two teams from the last series, who won their respective series. These two teams play each other in the championship series for their respective league.^{[7]
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2
Understand that the Championship Series requires a minimum of four games. 'The first team that racks up four games in the series, advances to the next round. Eventually, by the end of a maximum of 7 games, one of those teams will have the required 4 wins in the series and advance to the World Series.^{[8]
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Part 5

Part 5 of 5:
World Series: National League versus American League

1
Understand that the Championship Series winners from each league play each other.^{[9]
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2
Understand that the World Series requires a minimum of four games. 'The first team that racks up three games in the series, advances to the next round. Eventually, by the end of a maximum of 7 games, one of those teams will have 4 wins in the series, and will be able to be declared the World Series trophy winner.^{[10]
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Community Q&A

Question

Can a wild card team be the initial home team?

Community Answer

This can only occur in the World Series. In the divisional and championship series, they cannot have home field advantage.
Question

If the wild card team advances to the NLCS and has a better overall record that the other NLCS team, will the wildcard team have home field advantage?

Community Answer

No. Wild card teams do not get the chance to have home field advantage until the World Series.
Question

Can the wild card winner play the number 1 seed if they are from the same division?

Community Answer

Yes, they can.
Question

Can two wild card teams come from the same division?

Community Answer

Yes.
Question

How are the game times decided?

Donagan

Top Answerer

They are chosen with television (particularly Eastern and Central time-zone markets) in mind.
Question

If the Cubs play the Diamondbacks in the NLCS, which team would have home field advantage?

Community Answer

The team with the better record, unless one of them is the wild card team. A wild card team in this round would not have home field advantage.
Question

What if two teams in the same division are tied at the end of the regular season?

Community Answer

There's a 1 game tiebreaker at the home of the team that won the season series.

Things You'll Need

Scores for all teams involved
games back number for teams (to grab a winning team and wild card teams for each respective division, and wild card games back standings remotely)