How Do MLB Playoffs Work?

The MLB playoff format has evolved over the years. A few years ago, there was just one postseason series, with the winners of each league meeting in the World Series. Division and championship series were then added before the introduction of a wild-card round. 

Naturally, more people are searching for the best baseball bets during the postseason when MLB odds are posted. It’s when the lights are brightest, and players can write their names into the record books. 

How Do MLB Playoffs Work?

Five teams qualify for the playoffs in each league. The three division winners all go to the postseason. Of the division winners, the teams with the top two records in each league receive a bye to the division series. 

The division winner with the worst record is named the third seed and goes into the wild-card round with the three wild-card teams. 

UPDATED MLB 2023 Playoff Bracket

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This format is the same in both leagues, meaning a total of 10 teams in the postseason. 

The wild-card series are a best-of-three, with the higher seed hosting all three games. The two winners of these series go into a best-of-five division series, which feeds into the best-of-seven championship series. 

BetMGM’s online sports betting markets for the American League and National League winners are focused on which team wins their respective championship series. Winning a championship series is often referred to as “winning the pennant.” 

The two championship series winners face off in the World Series. This is a best-of-seven series. The winner of this series is the champion and receives the Commissioner’s Trophy. 

The team with the better regular-season record receives home-field advantage in each series. In the division series, this means three potential home games, with the higher seeds getting four potential home games in each of the championship series and World Series.