Major League Baseball has put forth a proposal to trim down the regular season from 162 games to 154 games, starting in 2029. As part of negotiations with players, MLB also plans to extend the Division Series to best-of-seven games. Additionally, team owners have suggested allowing higher-seeded teams in the initial two postseason rounds to choose their opponents from next year onwards. They are also considering making Mondays a day off for most teams starting in 2029, except for those involved in one or two nationally broadcast games.
The adjustment in the regular-season length would impact the opportunity for players to achieve season and career records. MLB spokesperson Glen Caplin highlighted the benefits of reverting to a 154-game schedule, emphasizing the importance of a weekly off day for player well-being and the potential for a new national broadcast slot to feature exciting teams and players. The proposed changes aim to enhance the postseason experience for fans by reducing weekday afternoon games, extending the Division Series, and showcasing top pitchers on a bigger platform. Allowing top seeds to select their opponents is seen as a strategy to create engaging narratives, intensify rivalries, and foster new ones.
MLB has assured that player salaries would not be adjusted to account for the reduced number of games. However, bonus provisions tied to game participation would be revised to align with the shortened schedule.
Historically, the National and American Leagues implemented 154-game schedules in 1904, with each team playing all opponents 22 times in an eight-team circuit. The AL transitioned to a 162-game schedule in 1961 when it expanded to 10 teams, followed by the NL the subsequent year. The League Championship Series (LCS) began in 1969 as a best-of-five format, later evolving into a best-of-seven series. Division Series have been best-of-five since their inception in 1995. Wild Card games were introduced in 2012 when the playoffs expanded to 10 teams, and they became best-of-three Wild Card Series with the expansion to 12 clubs in 2022.
