You Don't Need a Scorecard to Know This: How Many Teams Throw Down in the MLB Playoffs?
Ah, baseball season. The crack of the bat, the smell of hot dogs (questionable origin optional), and the never-ending quest to dethrone the reigning champs. But with all the teams vying for glory, you might be wondering, just how many squads actually make it to the big dance, the Fall Classic, the World Series?
Spoiler alert: It's not everyone. Your local team, bless their hearts, might be more suited to a picnic in the outfield than a champagne shower. But fear not, baseball fan, because we're here to clear the bases (sorry, couldn't resist) on how many teams make the MLB playoffs.
Not Your Grandpappy's Playoff Party: The Big Expansion
Now, things weren't always this way. Back in the day, the playoffs were a cozy little affair, with just a handful of teams invited. But baseball, ever the trendsetter (except for the whole instant replay thing, that took forever), decided to open up the party. In 2022, they unveiled a spankin' new format, and let me tell you, it's a doozy.
Drumroll please
A whopping 12 teams get to throw their hats (or helmets, we're not judging) into the ring. That's right, 12! That's more teams than there are reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh (though considerably less likely to leave droppings on your lawn).
Breaking it Down: Who Gets the Fancy Invitations?
So, how do these lucky 12 get their golden tickets? Well, it's a two-part system, kind of like a baseball game itself (nine innings, get it?).
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Division Dominators: First up, we have the division winners. Each league, the American League (AL) and the National League (NL), is split into divisions. The team with the best record in each division gets an automatic invite to the playoffs. Think of them as the homecoming king and queen, but instead of a crown, they get a shot at the World Series trophy.
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Wild Card Warriors: But wait, there's more! Not every team can be prom king, and that's okay. Three Wild Card teams from each league also get to join the party. These are the underdogs, the scrappers, the teams that might not have won their division but still have the fight to win it all.
So, to recap, we've got 3 division winners and 3 Wild Card teams from each league, making a grand total of 12 glorious teams ready to battle it out for baseball supremacy.
Now You're in the Know!
So there you have it, folks! The next time someone asks you how many teams make the MLB playoffs, you can confidently spout off this newfound knowledge. You'll be the resident baseball brainiac, the envy of all your friends (or at least the ones who care about baseball). Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some hot dogs to eat and a game to watch.
