How Often Do Teams from the Same Division Make It to the Playoffs in MLB?

Since the adoption of the wildcard in 1995, the chance of teams from the same division appearing in the postseason has increased considerably.

Understanding the Current Playoff Structure

As of 2022, the wildcard concept ensures that at least two teams from every division will reach the playoffs. The advances in the postseason are structured such that the division champions and the wildcard teams compete against each other. The wildcard team is defined as the second-best team in a division not represented by a division champion. Hence, every year there are two teams from the same division in the playoffs.

Historical Context and Variations

Before the implementation of the wildcard in 1995, the playoff structure was more rigid. Only division winners qualified for the postseason, except in 1981 and 1994 due to players' strikes. In 1981, due to a split season, each division saw two teams playoff-eligible, while the 1994 strike ended the regular season and postseason.

Recent Trends and Seeding

Starting from the 2022 season, every division is expected to have two teams in the playoffs. This is due to the wildcard teams playing their role as the second-best teams in their respective divisions. The top two teams in the AL Wild Card race in 2022 were Tampa Bay East, Houston West, and Toronto East, while in the NL Wild Card race, the top two teams were Cincinnati Central and Arizona West.

The Wild Card Round

In the wildcard round, the third seed plays the sixth seed, and the fourth and fifth seeds face each other. The winners advance to the Division Series. For instance, the 2022 playoffs saw the Cleveland Guardians (seed 3) defeat the Tampa Bay Rays (seed 6), while the Seattle Mariners (seed 4) defeated the Toronto Blue Jays (seed 5). This resulted in three AL Division Series (ALDS) matchups between same-division teams: Houston and Seattle, Philadelphia and Atlanta, and San Diego and LA. The potential World Series matchups can also include such same-division teams, as observed in previous World Series.

Past Examples of Same-Division World Series

The 1989 World Series featured San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics. In 2000, the New York Yankees and the New York Mets were in the same division, and they faced each other. In 1944 and 1985, the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox, as well as the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals, respectively, also faced each other in the same division during the World Series.

Conclusion

The current playoff structure in Major League Baseball ensures that teams from the same division can participate in the postseason, thus increasing the chances of same-division matchups. However, the divisional system prevents teams from the same division from playing against each other in the World Series. This rich history and frequent occurrence of same-division teams in the playoffs showcase the intricate dynamics of the baseball postseason structure.