How many Wild Card Teams Make it to the MLB Playoffs?

By Oliver Wiener August 01, 2024 11:09

Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images/File

The road to the MLB postseason has become even more thrilling with the inclusion of Wild Card teams. As of the 2022 season, the playoff format has been redesigned to allow more teams the opportunity to vie for the coveted World Series championship. Now, a total of six Wild Card teams, three from the American League and three from the National League, secure spots in the postseason. This expansion not only intensifies the competition but also keeps fans on the edge of their seats as more teams than ever before have a shot at glory in the MLB playoffs.

This article will cover the Wild Card system and look at history, what goes into getting in as a WC team for historical context, and much more.

Explain The MLB Wild Card System

Major League Baseball (MLB) redesigned its playoff system in 2022, expanding the postseason field to include side teams three from each league, American and National. This includes:

Three Wild Cards From Each League

Wild Card teams are the two non-division winning teams with the best regular season records. It creates a more interesting postseason competition, as teams that might not have won their division still get to compete for the title of World Series champion.

The Teams That Make the Wild Card

Beginning with the 1995 season, one winner from each league will be added to advance within the division. The team qualifying as a Wildcard must have one of the three best winning percentages, making them eligible for advancement in their league, which does not belong to either Division Winner at the end of the regular schedule.

No. 1 Seed: Best overall record of division winners
No. 2 Seed: Second-best record among division winners
No. 3 Seed: Third Best Record Among Division Winners
No. 4 Seed Best record among Wild Card teams
No. 5 Seed: Second-best record among Wild Card teams
No. 6 Seed: Third-best record for Wild Card teams

Two division winners from each league will receive a bye into the Division Series, while Wild Card teams have to play in an expanded best-of-three Wild Card round.

Major Drivers of Wild Card Team Success

Head-to-Head Matchups

Teams that have enjoyed success against their possible playoff opponents could go into those postseason matchups with some mental edge. Wild Card teams may also feel a bit more confident aside from whoever they are playing heading into the postseason based on how well they've played against their respective division winner during the regular season.

Postseason Performance

Another big factor is the ability of Wild Card teams under pressure. Regardless of standings, Wild Card teams have historically had different degrees of success in the playoffs.

Wild Card Teams vs. Division Winners-Success Rates

Historical Success Rates

Historically, Wild Card teams have fared well in the playoffs compared with division winners. The top seed from each division advances and has the luxury of a home game in their favor, but we have seen that teams can get hot at just the right time.

Since the Wild Card began in 1995, MLB stats show that a total of 11 World Series titles have been claimed by teams slipping through via the Wild Card slot. This is what the Florida Marlins (1997/2003) and, to an extent, even more sadly, quite possibly for a long time after next week, if not in 2021, as well as the San Francisco Giants are.

Conversely, Division Champions still have an advantage over wild cards due to consistent success all season. But the playoffs are a different beast, and Wild Card teams always beat higher seeds in them.

Recent Trends

Over the last few years, we can make a table showing this trend, showing that Wild Card teams are better than previously thought. In the 2021 playoffs, Wild Card teams, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, made great runs in the postseason, confirming that they could hang with anybody despite their lower seeding.

The MLB Wild Card system altered the postseason landscape of baseball, enabling more teams to chase a championship. Three Wild Card teams in each league only promise the potential for even more exciting battles and surprise results. As teams clash for a playoff place, the Wild Card race will keep fans invested in every regular-season game this year. Division winner or Wild Card, there's a tough road to the Fall Classic with no shortage of thrilling moments along the way.