Major League Baseball proposed a 154-game regular season during a collective bargaining session with the MLBPA today, according to an announcement in The current 162-game schedule was fully adopted in 1962. Previously, the regular season had been 154 games, hence the league’s formulation of returning to that length. The MLB announcement mentions instituting a “standard weekly day off that benefits player health” under the 154-game schedule. Cutting eight games from the regular season fits with the increase in Division Series games. Expanding that round from a five-game series to a seven-game series would mean a maximum of eight additional playoff games. These two changes would take place in 2029, according to the league’s proposal. In a follow-up post on X, the league notes that the longer playoff series possible thanks to the shortened regular season would add additional off days to the postseason schedule. This would give pitchers additional rest and limit the number of weekday day playoff games, the league argues. “A shortened regular season unlocks an even better October for our fans, with fewer midweek afternoon games, a longer Division Series and more opportunities to see the game’s best pitchers on the biggest stage,” said MLB spokesman Glen Caplin, relayed by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. Selection of a playoff opponent would take place in the Wild Card and Division Series rounds, according to the league’s proposal. In the first round, the No. 3 seed could choose between playing the No. 5 or No. 6 seed. In the Division Series, the top seed could choose which of the wild card round winners they wanted to face. If accepted, the change would take effect for the 2027 season. The setup would have made some interesting decisions this postseason. Instead of playing the White Sox, the No. 3 Astros could have chosen to face the Red Sox. After the Braves and Padres advanced in the wild card round, the top-seeded Brewers could have opted to face Atlanta instead of San Diego. The league’s scheduling proposals remain dependent on the institution of the salary cap/floor system, as noted in its announcement. That has been the main point of friction between the two parties. With the salary cap stipulation attached, the MLBPA is unlikely to accept the proposals. The union responded with a statement about X sharing that sentiment. “The players will give their opinion on these proposals and we will respond at the negotiating table,” the statement read in part. “Unfortunately, the league has once again made clear that all of its proposals are contingent on players agreeing to a salary cap, a system that destroys player rights and compensation.” Photo courtesy of Brett Davis, Imagn Images
