MLB expands 2020 postseason to 16
teams from 10
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[July 24, 2020]
(Reuters) - Major League
Baseball and the union representing its players agreed on Thursday
to an expanded playoff field for this year that will feature 16
teams instead of 10 following a regular season shortened due to the
COVID-19 outbreak.
The 2020 postseason format, which was unanimously approved by all 30
MLB clubs, will begin in late September with eight best-of-three
Wild Card Series preceding the Division Series.
"This season will be a sprint to a new format that will allow more
fans to experience playoff baseball," said MLB Commissioner Rob
Manfred. "We look forward to a memorable postseason concluding a
year like no other."
The agreement, announced in a joint statement by the league and
union, was reached on a conference call ahead of MLB's
season-opening games in Washington and Los Angeles.
MLB was originally scheduled to begin its 162-game regular season in
late March but postponed the start due to the virus. It will now
play a 60-game campaign using a schedule that will put an emphasis
on geographical proximity to limit travel.
"The opportunity to add playoff games in this already-abbreviated
season makes sense for fans, the league and players," said MLB
Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark.
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The national anthem is played before the start of Game 3 of the MLB
NLCS playoff baseball series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the
San Francisco Giants in St. Louis, Missouri, October 17, 2012.
REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine
"We hope it will result in highly competitive pennant races as well
as exciting additional playoff games to the benefit of the industry
and all involved heading into next year."
Since 2012, MLB's playoff format has featured the six division
champions and two wild cards from each of the American League and
National League.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; editing by Richard Pullin)
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