Major League Baseball has utilized a wild card playoff system since 2012 to expand the number of teams that make the postseason beyond the traditional three division winners in each league. The current wild card format allows for two wild card teams in each league to earn a spot in a best-of-three games playoff series to determine who advances to the League Division Series.
When the wild card system was initially introduced in 2012 and 2013 there was just one wild card team from each league that participated in a one-game playoff to determine the wild card winner. This put a lot of emphasis on that single elimination game and meant a team could win 93 games and still miss the postseason if they lost that wild card game. To help address the unfairness of a single game deciding a team’s playoff fate, MLB expanded to a two-team wild card format beginning in 2012.
Under the current setup, the two teams in each league with the best regular season records among those who did not win their division compete in the wild card round. The team with the higher winning percentage of the two hosts the lower seeded club for their best-of-three series. This mini-series helps alleviate some of the randomness that could occur in a one-game playoff. It also expands the postseason and gives an extra two teams the opportunity to fight for a spot in the LDS each year.
For the 2022 MLB season there continues to be two wild card playoff spots available in both the American and National Leagues. This means a total of four wild card teams will participate in best-of-three series to kick off October baseball this year. The top two division winners in each league receive byes directly to the LDS round, while the two wild card teams battle in their series.
In the AL, the four division winners as of mid-August are the New York Yankees (AL East), Houston Astros (AL West), Cleveland Guardians (AL Central), and either the Toronto Blue Jays or Tampa Bay Rays (AL East – race is close). That would leave the other non-division winner between Toronto and Tampa along with the next two highest winning teams as the two AL wild card clubs.
Over in the NL, the division leaders to this point are the Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West), New York Mets (NL East), and St. Louis Cardinals (NL Central). Like the AL East, the NL West is tightly contested between the Dodgers and San Diego Padres. Whichever team does not win the division would likely be one NL wild card team. The other spot would go to either the Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, or Philadelphia Phillies – whoever has the next best record among non-division winners.
As the regular season winds down in September, the races for the division titles and wild card positions will only intensify. More than ever, every game matters for teams hovering around or above .500 on the brink of the postseason picture. The additional playoff spots created by the wild cards adds another layer of drama, excitement, and possibility. It gives franchises renewed hope even if they can’t catch their division leaders. Coming all the way back to win a wild card series after a grueling 162-game schedule would be an incredible achievement and story.
While some traditionalists argue expanding the playoffs dilutes the regular season, the current wild card format has largely been seen as a successful modification that has made October baseball even more compelling. More franchises and fan bases have remained invested deeper into September knowing two extra playoff slots are on the line. The setup provides a balanced approach between honoring division champs and rewarding other quality teams. As long as MLB maintains the two wild card per league structure, four teams will have the opportunity to fight their way into the division series through these one-and-done wild card rounds each fall. The drama and excitement they create has made postseason baseball even more compelling and unpredictable.
For the 2022 MLB season there continue to be two wild card playoff spots available in both the American League and National League. This means a total of four teams – two from each league – will participate in best-of-three wild card series to begin the postseason chase this October. The system allows an extra two clubs per league a chance to extend their season and battle their way into the LDS. While the races are still ongoing, the wild cards provide renewed hope for franchises chasing their division leaders down the stretch and make for an thrilling conclusion to the regular season.
