Are Expanded Playoffs Coming, and Does it Help the Mariners?

Major League Baseball has entered its first lockout since the 1994 strike. This has quickly become a contentious situation, with it being reported that there have been multiple short and dicey meetings between owners and the players association. The situation has many sides: the league’s/owners’ side, the players’ side, and the fans’ side. The most exciting question for fans is, will there be more teams in an expanded playoffs?

First, the owners’ side of expanded playoffs

The owners are reportedly willing to expand the playoffs, there are currently 10 playoff teams, but they want to up it to 14. This would bring in more revenue for the sport. In 2020, there were 16 playoff teams which made for a great round of wild card games. It was a little similar to March Madness where there are many games happening at once. A proposed 14 team playoff would give the team in each league with the best record a bye for the first round.

The remaining 6 teams in each league would play a wild card round, possibly a one-game, winner advances format. There also could be short 3 game series like in 2020. That would be very fun for the fans out there, they would have more playoff games, which would also entice owners. If there were 3 game wild card rounds instead of one game, then that is more revenue for the teams to make from hosting, and more television money.