The MLB playoff format has changed since the last time the Orioles made the postseason, so here’s a quick refresher on how the MLB postseason works in 2023.
Six teams from each league make the postseason — the three division winners and three wild-card teams.
The top two division winners in each league receive a first-round bye, while the third-best division winner and the three wild-card winners play in the wild-card round.
Wild Card Round
Instead of a single-game format, the wild-card round is now a best-of-three series. All three games are hosted by the higher seed. This year the wild-card round will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 3, Wednesday, Oct. 4 and Thursday, Oct. 5 (if necessary). ESPN will broadcast the wild-card games.
Division Series
The Division Series is a best-of-five series, with the first two games hosted by the higher seed, Games 3 and 4 hosted by the lower seed, and Game 5 (if necessary) hosted by the higher seed.
The ALDS and NLDS will both begin on Saturday, Oct. 7. The ALDS will be broadcast on FOX/FS1, while TBS airs the NLDS.
League Championship Series
The League Championship Series is a best-of-seven series, with the first two games hosted by the higher seed, Games 3, 4 and 5 hosted by the lower seed, and Games 6 and 7 (if necessary) hosted by the higher seed.
The ALCS will begin on Sunday, Oct. 15, and the NLCS will begin on Monday, Oct. 16. The ALCS will be broadcast on FOX/FS1, while the NLCS will be on TBS.
World Series
The 2023 World Series begins on Friday, Oct. 27 and follows the same 2-3-2 format as the League Championship Series. If necessary, Game 7 of the 2023 World Series would be held on Saturday, Nov. 4. All World Series games will be broadcast on FOX.
So What Does This Mean For The Orioles?
If the Orioles win the AL East, they will receive a first-round bye and open up play in the ALDS. If the Orioles do not win the AL East, they will be play in the wild-card round and can be no higher than a No. 4 seed.
No. 1 seed: Division winner with best record
No. 2 seed: Division winner with second-best record
No. 3 seed: Division winner with third-best record
No. 4 seed: Wild-card winner with best record
No. 5 seed: Wild-card winner with second-best record
No. 6 seed: Wild-card winner with third-best record
* The seeds do not reset after each round.
Tiebreakers
If two teams end the season with identical records, the higher seed is determined by MLB’s tiebreaker rules. The first tie-breaker is head-to-head record. The Orioles won the season series against the Rays, 8-5, so if Baltimore and Tampa Bay finish the season with identical records, the Orioles would win the division.
If two teams end the season with identical records and split their season series, then additional tiebreakers would come into play, starting with each team’s record within their division. For complete tiebreaker rules, click here.
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