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The Division Series (DS) is the quarterfinal round of postseason play in Major League Baseball, featuring the American League Division Series (ALDS) and the National League Division Series (NLDS). Under the current format, the top-two division winners in each league play best-of-five series against the two winners of the Wild Card Series from each league. The winners of the Division Series then advance to the League Championship Series for their respective league.
History
edit1981 season
editThe first use of the term "Division Series" dates to 1981, when, due to a mid-season players' strike, the season was divided into two halves. To attempt to balance the two halves of the season, the postseason was temporarily expanded to include a Division Series, with the winners of the first and second half from each division (East and West at the time) playing one another in a best-of-five series to decide which team would represent that division in the League Championship Series (this format being common in Minor League Baseball).
The temporary format did come without flaws, however. One flaw was that, because the two halves of the season were independent of one another, the winner of the first half had no real incentive to try to win the second half as well. Even if one team finished first in their division in both halves, they would not receive a bye for the round, and would instead have to play the Division Series against the team that finished in second place for the second half.
In addition, a team that finished with the best overall record in the division over the course of both halves of the season could still miss the playoffs if they failed to place first in their division at the end of either half of the season. This was the case for the Cincinnati Reds, who posted a 66–42 overall record, the best over both halves in the National League West division, yet they missed the playoffs because they were in second place at the end of both the first and second half. The St. Louis Cardinals also suffered this same result, as they finished with a 59–43 record over both halves of the season, but were in second place in the National League East division at the end of each half.
The Division Series did not return after the 1981 season, as the league reverted back to its normal postseason format at the time.
1995–2011
editIn 1993, owners approved the reintroduction of the Division Series, this time on a permanent basis.[1] A cause for the expansion was the fact that three of the four series in the one-off 1981 Division Series went to a decisive game 5.[2] Originally, the new format called for the first-place teams in the two divisions per league to play the second-place teams in the opposite divisions of that league. For example, the first-place team in the American League East would play the second-place team in the American League West, and vice versa.
In 1994, both the National League and the American League realigned, with the number of divisions in both increasing from two to three (adding a Central Division, with fewer teams in each division). The plan for the new format was altered to allow the three first-place teams from each league's divisions to reach the postseason, along with one wild card team from each league (the best second-place finisher in each league). The new format was intended to debut that season, but it was delayed when the 1994 postseason was canceled due to a players' strike, and it instead debuted with the 1995 postseason.
Originally, the East, Central, and West Division champions rotated home-site priority, with two division winners getting an extra home game, and the third one not having the extra game along with the wild card team, who never had it. The 2–3 format was used in which the disadvantaged team hosted the first two games, and the team with the advantage hosted the remaining game(s). This made it impossible for the disadvantaged team to clinch the series at home. A similar format had been used for the League Championship Series from 1969 to 1984. It also allowed the disadvantaged teams the unusual luxury of starting a series at home, and a guarantee that they play two games at home, whereas the advantaged team may play only one game at home if the series ends in a three-game sweep.
In 1998, the method for awarding home-field advantage was changed. The two division champions with the best regular-season records were given home-field advantage, forcing the worst division winner to play an extra road game. Also, the format changed to a 2–2–1 layout, with the team having home-field advantage hosting games 1, 2, and (if necessary) 5.[3][4][5] In both the AL and NL, the three division champions were automatically given the top three seeds, seeded 1–3 based on record, and the wild-card was given the 4th seed regardless of record. In both the AL and the NL, the #1 seed played the #4 seed and the #2 seed played the #3 seed, unless the #1 and #4 seed were in the same division. Because teams from the same division could not play each other in the first round, if the normal matchups would cause this, then the #1 seed played the #3 seed, and the #2 seed played the #4 seed. In all cases, the top two seeds had home-field advantage.
From 2007 to 2011, the #1 seed of the league that won the All-Star Game was given another advantage. In addition to earning home-field advantage throughout the entire playoffs, they were allowed to choose their schedule for the series. They could either choose to have an extra day off (usually between games 1 and 2) during the series and start a day early, or start a day late, with one less off day (only having travel days off, between games 2 and 3, and if necessary 4 and 5). The American League's best record received this option from 2007–2009 and the National League's best record received it in 2010.[6]
2012–2019, 2021
editA revised playoff system was utilized beginning with the 2012 season, which added a second wild-card team for each league. The two wild card teams in each league played a one-game playoff to advance. The winner of this game advanced to play the #1 seed in the league in the Division Series, regardless of whether the two teams were in the same division. Because the format was added well after the regular season schedule was announced, the 2012 Division Series used a 2–3 format. From 2013 to 2021, the Division Series used the 2–2–1 format previously used.[7]
2020
editThe 2020 postseason was modified from its usual format due to the temporary expansion of the playoffs for the 60-game regular season. After a best-of-three, 8-team Wild Card Series, the winners of the 1 vs. 8 matchup faced the winners of the #4 vs. #5 matchup while the #2 vs. #7 faced the #3 vs. #6. Each of the four matchups were played in consecutive days at neutral sites, with the usual 2–2–1 structure used to determine the designated home teams. When every team from the two Central Divisions were eliminated in the Wild Card Series, it meant that all four Division Series matchups would feature teams from the same division playing each other (i.e. East playing East and West playing West), the first occasion of this happening since 1981.
2022–present
editWith the expansion of the postseason to six teams per league since the 2022 season, only the two best division winners earn byes to the Division Series. The Wild Card Series was reinstated as a best-of-three series featuring the third-best division winner and three wild card teams, with the two winners of that round advancing to the Division Series. In this round, the #1 seed faces the #4 vs. #5 winner, and the #2 seed plays the #3 vs. #6 winner; the bracket does not re-seed.[8][9][10][11][12]
Criticism of scheduling
editThere has been some criticism on how Major League Baseball schedules Division Series games. Teams with large national fan followings like the New York Yankees are almost always scheduled to play in prime time at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT to generate the highest television ratings. As a result, West Coast teams generally have to play on the road in the afternoon, when many of their fans are unable to watch the game because they are at work or school.[13][14] Conversely, when games on the West Coast are played at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, many fans on the East Coast are unable to watch a game in its entirety, due to work or school the next day and games ending around 1 a.m. ET/10 p.m. PT, while most West Coast fans are able to watch the entire game as it will not end as late on the West Coast.
However, in 1995, (as aforementioned, the 1994 series was not played due to the strike), the Division and League Championship Series was aired by the league's television operation, The Baseball Network, a joint syndication package between ABC and NBC. In order to increase viewership, all games were played in prime time at consistent times, and each affiliate of the network carrying the series could only air one of the games each night, determined by the station's area. While this prevented the issue of afternoon games (and did, as planned, increase viewership), the plan drew ire from critics for not allowing viewers to choose the games they want to watch during the postseason.[15][16]
Results
editAmerican League Division Series
edit| † | Wild card |
|---|
Notable streaks
editAppearances by team
edit| Apps | Team | Wins | Losses | Win % | Most recent win |
Most recent appearance |
Games won |
Games lost |
Game win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | New York Yankees | 15 | 10 | .600 | 2024 | 2025 | 59 | 44 | .573 |
| 14 | Boston Red Sox | 8 | 6 | .571 | 2021 | 2021 | 26 | 26 | .500 |
| 12 | Cleveland Guardians | 6 | 6 | .500 | 2024 | 2024 | 27 | 24 | .529 |
| 9 | Athletics | 2 | 7 | .222 | 2006 | 2020 | 19 | 21 | .475 |
| 8 | Houston Astros | 7 | 1 | .875 | 2023 | 2023 | 23 | 9 | .719 |
| 8 | Texas Rangers | 3 | 5 | .375 | 2023 | 2023 | 12 | 18 | .400 |
| 8 | Minnesota Twins | 1 | 7 | .125 | 2002 | 2023 | 6 | 23 | .207 |
| 7 | Los Angeles Angels | 3 | 4 | .429 | 2009 | 2014 | 10 | 15 | .400 |
| 7 | Detroit Tigers | 4 | 2 | .667 | 2013 | 2025 | 16 | 16 | .500 |
| 7 | Tampa Bay Rays | 2 | 5 | .333 | 2020 | 2021 | 13 | 18 | .419 |
| 6 | Seattle Mariners | 4 | 2 | .667 | 2025 | 2025 | 13 | 12 | .520 |
| 5 | Baltimore Orioles | 3 | 2 | .600 | 2014 | 2023 | 11 | 8 | .579 |
| 4 | Chicago White Sox | 1 | 3 | .250 | 2005 | 2021 | 5 | 9 | .357 |
| 4 | Kansas City Royals | 2 | 2 | .500 | 2015 | 2024 | 7 | 8 | .467 |
| 3 | Toronto Blue Jays | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | 2025 | 2025 | 7 | 2 | .778 |
| 1 | Milwaukee Brewers[a] | 0 | 1 | .000 | Never | 1981 | 2 | 3 | .400 |
Years of appearance
editIn the sortable table below, teams are ordered first by number of wins, then by number of appearances, and finally by year of first appearance. In the "Season(s)" column, bold years indicate winning appearances.
Frequent matchups
edit| Count | Matchup | Record | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins | Yankees, 5–0 | 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2019 |
| 4 | Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels | Red Sox, 3–1 | 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009 |
| 4 | Cleveland Guardians vs. Boston Red Sox | Indians/Guardians, 3–1 | 1995, 1998, 1999, 2016 |
| 4 | Cleveland Guardians vs. New York Yankees | Tied, 2–2 | 1997, 2007, 2017, 2022 |
| 3 | Texas Rangers vs. New York Yankees | Yankees, 3–0 | 1996, 1998, 1999 |
| 2 | New York Yankees vs. Athletics | Yankees, 2–0 | 2000, 2001 |
| 2 | New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Angels | Angels, 2–0 | 2002, 2005 |
| 2 | Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays | Rangers, 2–0 | 2010, 2011 |
| 2 | Athletics vs. Minnesota Twins | Tied, 1–1 | 2002, 2006 |
| 2 | Detroit Tigers vs. New York Yankees | Tigers, 2–0 | 2006, 2011 |
| 2 | Detroit Tigers vs. Athletics | Tigers, 2–0 | 2012, 2013 |
| 2 | Texas Rangers vs. Toronto Blue Jays | Blue Jays, 2–0 | 2015, 2016 |
| 2 | Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays | Red Sox, 2–0 | 2013, 2021 |
National League Division Series
edit| † | Wild card |
|---|
Appearances by team
edit| Apps | Team | Wins | Losses | Win % | Most recent win |
Most recent appearance |
Games won |
Games lost |
Game win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 11 | 9 | .550 | 2025 | 2025 | 40 | 38 | .513 |
| 19 | Atlanta Braves | 8 | 11 | .421 | 2021 | 2023 | 38 | 36 | .514 |
| 14 | St. Louis Cardinals | 11 | 3 | .786 | 2019 | 2019 | 36 | 20 | .643 |
| 10 | Philadelphia Phillies | 5 | 5 | .500 | 2023 | 2025 | 21 | 19 | .525 |
| 9 | San Francisco Giants | 4 | 5 | .444 | 2014 | 2021 | 17 | 21 | .447 |
| 8 | Chicago Cubs | 4 | 4 | .500 | 2017 | 2025 | 12 | 16 | .429 |
| 7 | Houston Astros[b] | 2 | 5 | .286 | 2005 | 2005 | 10 | 18 | .357 |
| 7 | Arizona Diamondbacks | 3 | 4 | .429 | 2023 | 2023 | 12 | 14 | .462 |
| 7 | San Diego Padres | 2 | 5 | .286 | 2022 | 2024 | 9 | 17 | .346 |
| 6 | Washington Nationals | 2 | 4 | .333 | 2019 | 2019 | 13 | 16 | .448 |
| 5 | New York Mets | 5 | 0 | 1.000 | 2024 | 2024 | 15 | 5 | .750 |
| 5 | Milwaukee Brewers | 3 | 2 | .600 | 2025 | 2025 | 11 | 10 | .524 |
| 4 | Colorado Rockies | 1 | 3 | .250 | 2007 | 2018 | 5 | 9 | .357 |
| 3 | Cincinnati Reds | 1 | 2 | .333 | 1995 | 2012 | 5 | 6 | .455 |
| 3 | Miami Marlins | 2 | 1 | .667 | 2003 | 2020 | 6 | 4 | .600 |
| 1 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 0 | 1 | .000 | Never | 2013 | 2 | 3 | .400 |
Years of appearance
editIn the sortable table below, teams are ordered first by number of wins, then by number of appearances, and finally by year of first appearance. In the "Season(s)" column, bold years indicate winning appearances.
Frequent matchups
editSee also
edit
Notes
edit- 1 2 The Milwaukee Brewers moved to the National League in 1998.
- 1 2 The Houston Astros moved to the American League in 2013.
References
edit- ↑ Castrovince, Anthony (October 4, 2022). "Complete history of baseball's postseason formats". mlb.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
MLB's 1994 realignment to three divisions per league (East, Central and West) was paired with the creation of a Wild Card postseason spot in each league (giving the postseason an even number of teams) and a permanent version of the "quarterfinal," best-of-five Division Series.
- ↑ Owner Approve to Expand Playoffs to 8 teams The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
- ↑ "Baseball Changes Playoff Format". AP NEWS. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
- ↑ Chass, Murray (September 20, 1998). "BASEBALL: NOTEBOOK; 3 Playoff Teams Are Packed Up and Ready to Go, but to Where?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- ↑ Archives, L. A. Times (March 20, 1998). "Change in Playoff Format Becomes a Matter of Record". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- ↑ 2010 MLB Postseason Schedule MLB.com
- ↑ Bloom, Barry M. (March 2, 2012). "Addition of Wild Card berths finalized for 2012". MLB.com.
- ↑ "MLB playoff picture: Bracket, standings, new format explained with 12-team postseason field set". CBSSports.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ↑ "2022 MLB playoffs: New postseason format explained, and why there are no more Game 163 tiebreakers". CBSSports.com. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
- ↑ "New MLB postseason format, explained". MLB.com. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- ↑ Kepner, Tyler (October 6, 2022). "Baseball's Postseason Is Evolving, for Better or Worse". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- ↑ "Everything you need to know about '22 season". MLB.com. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
- ↑ Street, Jim (October 4, 2006). "Mailbag: Was Penny the right choice?". MLB.com. Retrieved October 7, 2006.[dead link]
- ↑ Kroner, Steve (October 14, 2005). "Blame it on TV — but not always Baseball, too, wants top draw for prime time". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on August 11, 2007. Retrieved October 7, 2006.
- ↑ "TV'S COVERAGE OF PLAYOFFS A 'WHO'S ON?' ROUTINE". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. October 1, 1995. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
- ↑ Hooper, Ernest (September 29, 1994). "Baseball strikes out - again Series: TV / RADIO; FANFARE". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "Astros close out Twins, advance to ALCS vs. Rangers". ESPN. October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
- ↑ "Astros Beat Twins to Win Seventh Straight ALCS, Set Up All-Texas ALCS". Sports Illustrated (Associated Press). October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2025.