The 2022 MLB playoffs are finally upon us.
The playoff format is different this year, so here’s an explanation of how everything works now that all playoff games are set.
When does the 2022 MLB playoffs start?
The 2022 MLB Playoffs begin Friday, October 7 with the new best-of-three Wild Card Round.
What is the new MLB playoff format and how is it different?
There are six teams in each league. The top two seeds in each league get byes to the Division Series. In the Wild Card round, the third seed hosts the sixth seed and the fourth seed hosts the fifth seed. Series are best of three, and the highest seed is home for each game.
The playoffs do not resume; this means that if, for example, the sixth seed upsets the third seed, the first seed would still play the winner of match #4 against #5.
All matches in the Wild Card round will air on the Disney Family of Networks on ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC.
What are the implications of the new 2022 MLB playoff format?
Jon “Boog” Sciambi, considered by many to be the best active play-by-play baseball broadcaster in America, spoke to The Post about his thoughts on the new format.
“At first I didn’t like it – I think I liked the idea of baseball and the uniqueness of making the playoffs, and it feels less like the NBA and the NHL,” he said. .
However, Sciambi came for several reasons.
“I think the more I considered it, and I could be wrong about that – I think there’s going to be a payoff that I’ll like eventually, and that will make it a little fairer,” he continued. “I think the longer you make the playoffs, the more likely the better teams are to win. A team can’t continue this ‘miracle run’ because they just need too many pitches and they have to maintain a quality play over several series. I think it will be more difficult for the teams to succeed in this surprise race.
Sciambi also challenged the idea that after a 162-game season top teams could rust or otherwise be injured by having a few days off.
“You used to worry about too much rest. I don’t think anyone at this time of year [thinks that now] “I think they want some rest,” he said.
2022 MLB Playoff Table and Schedule
Wild Card Tour
National League
#4 Mets vs. #5 Padres
Game 1: Oct. 7, 8:07 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: Oct. 8, 7:37 p.m., ESPN
Game 3: Oct. 9, 7:37 p.m., ESPN (if needed)
No. 3 Cardinals vs. No. 6 Phillies
Game 1: Oct. 7, 2:07 p.m., ABC
Game 2: Oct. 8, 8:37 p.m., ESPN2
Game 3: Oct. 9, 8:37 p.m., ESPN2 (if needed)
American League
No. 4 Blue Jays vs. No. 5 Mariners
Game 1: Oct. 7, 4:07 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: Oct. 8, 4:07 p.m., ESPN
Game 3: Oct. 9, 2:07 p.m., ABC (if needed)
Guardians #3 vs. Rays #6
Game 1: Oct. 7, 12:07 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: Oct. 8, 12:07 p.m., ESPN2
Game 3: Oct. 9, 4:07 p.m., ESPN (if needed)
NLDS
Dodgers versus 4/5 winner
Game 1: October 11 in Los Angeles
Game 2: October 12 in Los Angeles
Game 3: October 14 at the bottom seed
Game 4: October 15 to bottom seed (if needed)
Game 5: October 16 in Los Angeles (if necessary)
Braves winner against 3/6
Game 1: October 11 in Atlanta
Game 2: October 12 in Atlanta
Game 3: October 14 at the bottom seed
Game 4: October 15 to bottom seed (if needed)
Game 5: October 16 in Atlanta (if necessary)
ALDS
Yankees vs. 3/6 winner
Game 1: October 11 at Yankee Stadium
Game 2: October 13 at Yankee Stadium
Game 3: October 15 at bottom seed
Game 4: October 16 to bottom seed (if needed)
Game 5: Oct. 17 at Yankee Stadium (if needed)
Astros versus 4/5 winner
Game 1: October 11 in Houston
Game 2: October 13 in Houston
Game 3: October 15 at bottom seed
Game 4: October 16 to bottom seed (if needed)
Game 5: October 17 in Houston (if necessary)
NLCS
Game 1: October 18
Game 2: October 19
Game 3: October 21
Game 4: October 22
Game 5: October 23 (if necessary)
Game 6: October 24 (if necessary)
Game 7: October 25 (if necessary)
ALCS
Game 1: October 19
Game 2: October 20
Game 3: October 22
Game 4: October 23
Game 5: October 24 (if necessary)
Game 6: October 25 (if necessary)
Game 7: October 26 (if necessary)
World Events
Game 1: October 28
Game 2: October 29
Game 3: October 31
Game 4: November 1
Game 5: November 2 (if needed)
Game 6: November 4 (if necessary)
Game 7: November 5 (if necessary)
Who is the favorite to win the 2022 World Series?
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the favorites to win the 2022 World Series starting Wednesday afternoon. Here is the full list of World Series odds for all 12 MLB playoff teams, courtesy of BetMGM.
Dodgers +300
Astros +400
Yankees +500
Brave +500
Put +700
Blue jays 15/1
Cardinals 18/1
Sailors 25/1
Guardians 28/1
Spokes 28/1
Padres 28/1
Phillies 35/1