The league announced the proposal of a 154-game season, which would knock out eight games of the 162-game slate that was implemented in 1961.Owners also proposed the Division Series, which has been a best-of-five since its introduction in 1995, to be a best-of-seven, but with a wild twist.CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGEThis page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated.
This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom.Commissioner of Major League Baseball Robert D.Manfred speaks during the 2026 All-Star Legacy Veterans Multi-Service Center renovation at Veterans Multi-Service Center on Monday, July 13, 2026, in Philadelphia, Pennsvlvania.
(Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)The highest seed in both the Wild Card and Division Series, owners proposed, would be given the ability to choose their opponents."Returning to a 154-game schedule would allow us to introduce a weekly off-day, which is good for player health, while also creating a new national broadcast window to showcase our most exciting teams and players," MLB spokesman Glen Caplin said."A shorter regular season unlocks making October even better for our fans -- with fewer weekday afternoon games, a longer Division Series and more opportunities to see the game’s best pitchers on the biggest stage.
And allowing the top seeds to select their opponents in the first two rounds would create compelling storylines, intensify existing rivalries and create new ones."The opponent-choosing could perhaps be a reaction to this year's postseason format, in which the American League teams with the second- and third-best records, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, will not see the Championship Series.Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert D.Manfred speaks during the 2026 All-Star Legacy renovation event at the Veterans Multi-Service Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 13...