MLB proposes 154-game season from 2029 and best-of-seven Division Series
In short
Major League Baseball proposed on Oct. 8 to cut the regular season to 154 games from 162 starting in 2029 and to expand the Division Series to best-of-seven, in a plan given to players during collective bargaining. The plan would also let higher-seeded teams in the first two postseason rounds pick their opponents from 2027 and make most regular-season Mondays an off day for most teams. The players' union said it will review the plan and respond at the bargaining table, while criticising the league's salary cap demand.
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Major League Baseball proposed to shorten the regular season to 154 games from 162 starting in 2029 and to expand the Division Series to best-of-seven in a plan given to players during collective bargaining on Thursday, Oct. 8, the Associated Press reported. Newsweek said the best-of-seven series would replace the current best-of-five. [ 1 , 4 , 8 ]
Owners also proposed adding nine days off to the current postseason format, extending it to a maximum of 42 days, which the AP said would give top starting pitchers the potential to appear more often. Beginning in 2027, higher-seeded teams in the wild-card round and the Division Series would be able to pick their opponents; Newsweek gave the example of the No. 3 seed choosing whether to play the No. 5 or No. 6 seed. The Wild Card Series would stay best-of-three at the higher-seeded team's ballpark, with an extra day off between Games 1 and 2. [ 1 , 4 , 8 ]
From 2029, most regular-season Mondays would be an off day for the vast majority of teams, except those in up to two nationally broadcast games. Teams that play on Monday would be off on Thursday, MLB said, according to CNBC. The regular season currently schedules 162 games over 187 days; the new format would play 154 games over 180 days in most years. [ 1 , 7 , 8 ]
"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 in a statement. He added that a shorter regular season would mean fewer weekday afternoon games, a longer Division Series and more opportunities to see the game's best pitchers on the biggest stage. [ 1 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
The proposal comes in labor talks ahead of the expiry of baseball's five-year contract on Dec. 1, and the AP said management is expected to lock out players in a confrontation that could delay or wipe out the 2027 season. MLB has proposed a salary cap, which the union has vowed never to accept, along with limits on contract values and length. CNBC called the cap the most contentious issue and said MLB is the only major American sports league without one. The players' association said it will review the plan and respond at the bargaining table, while stating that "the league once again made clear that all of its proposals are contingent on players' agreement to a salary cap." Newsweek reported that the union all but rejected the proposal within an hour. [ 1 , 4 , 7 , 8 ]
Cutting regular-season games would reduce players' opportunity to set season and career records, the AP said. Newsweek reported that owners of every team would lose four home games, while players would in theory be paid more per game. A 154-game season was used between 1904 and 1960, except in 1918 and 1919, according to CNBC; the American League moved to 162 games in 1961 and the National League the following year, Newsweek said. [ 1 , 4 , 7 , 8 ]
Why it matters
The proposal comes as baseball's five-year labor contract expires Dec. 1 and management is expected to lock out players, a confrontation the Associated Press said could delay or wipe out the 2027 season. Cutting games would reduce players' opportunity to set season and career records, and Newsweek noted that every team's owners would lose four home games.
Key facts
- MLB proposed shortening the regular season to 154 games from 162 starting in 2029. [ 1 , 4 , 7 , 8 ]
- The Division Series would expand to best-of-seven from best-of-five. [ 4 , 6 , 7 ]
- Higher-seeded teams in the first two postseason rounds would choose their opponents, beginning in 2027. [ 1 , 4 , 8 ]
- Owners proposed adding nine days off to the postseason, extending it to a maximum of 42 days. [ 1 , 8 ]
- Most regular-season Mondays would be an off day for most teams from 2029, except for up to two nationally broadcast games. [ 1 , 8 ]
- The current labor contract expires Dec. 1. [ 1 , 7 , 8 ]
- MLB has proposed a salary cap, which the players' union has vowed never to accept. [ 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- MLB proposed a 154-game regular season starting in 2029, down from 162 games. [ 1 , 4 , 7 , 8 ]
- The proposal would expand the Division Series to best-of-seven. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Higher-seeded teams in the first two postseason rounds would be allowed to pick their opponents. [ 1 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- MLB spokesman Glen Caplin said a 154-game schedule would allow a weekly off day, which is good for player health, and create a new national broadcast window. [ 1 , 6 , 8 ]
- The collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1. [ 1 , 7 , 8 ]
Still unclear
- How the players' union has responded to the schedule proposal. The Associated Press reported the union said it will review the plan and respond at the bargaining table, while Newsweek reported the players' association all but rejected it within an hour.
- Whether a lockout will take place and affect the 2027 season. The Associated Press said management is expected to lock out players, but this is a forecast, not a decision.
- Whether the schedule changes can be agreed separately from a salary cap. The union said the league made clear all of its proposals are contingent on players agreeing to a salary cap; the league's view on this is not given in the documents.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The Associated Press reports MLB's proposal of a 154-game season and best-of-seven Division Series. [ 1 ]
- Reuters reports the proposed 154-game schedule and altered playoff format. [ 3 ]
- Newsweek reports the players' association all but rejected the proposal within an hour. [ 4 ]
- CNBC reports the proposal as part of MLB's push for a salary cap. [ 7 ]
- The Boston Globe carries the union's statement criticising the salary cap condition. [ 8 ]