MLB Wild-Card Format: How Does It Work?

Back in 1995, MLB added a wild-card berth in each league to allow a non-division winner a route into the postseason. In 2019, the decision was made to move to two wild-card spots in each league, with a one-off game played to decide which one advanced to the division series. 

Change was afoot again in 2022 after the expanded playoffs in the shortened 2020 season. 

MLB Wild-Card Format: How Does It Work?

The current MLB wild-card format sees the three wild-card teams enter the wild-card round along with the division winner with the worst record. Regardless of their regular-season record compared to the wild-card teams, the third division winner takes the third seed, which means they face the lowest-seeded wild-card team. 

October 5th, 2016
Conor Gillaspie dongs a three-run dinger to break the tie and give the Giants a 3-0 lead over the Mets in the NL Wild Card! #ConorGillaspie #GoosebumpSports #MLB #Giants #Mets #SanFrancisco #NewYork #NLWC #NLWildCard #HomeRun pic.twitter.com/jglPwYhMyj

— Goosebump Sports (@GoosebumpSports) July 10, 2022

Of the teams to qualify via the wild-card, the first- and second-ranked teams match up. The wild-card series are best-of-three with the higher seed hosting all three games. 

With more teams making the postseason, it’s important I take the wild-card standings into account when identifying the best baseball bets. Futures markets have a significant variable to consider, as was shown in 2023 when two wild-card teams met in the World Series. 

How Many Teams Make the MLB Wild-Card?

Six teams make the MLB postseason via the wild-card spots. These places are awarded to the teams with the best records that don’t win their division. The lowest-seeded division winner also enters the wild-card round, meaning eight total teams play in the wild-card round. 

The top two division winners in each league receive a bye to the division series, which is a factor to consider when evaluating the online sports betting markets. In the first couple of years of this format, this hasn’t necessarily been an advantage for the higher seeds. 

The games are scheduled to take place in a three-day window to avoid the teams with byes waiting longer than neccessary. The enforced rest is still worth thinking about when making MLB betting picks, given the everlasting rest vs. rust debate.