The Prologue: Regular Season Performance

The journey to the World Series begins long before the high-pressure playoff games. It starts in the grueling 162-game regular season, where teams from both the American League (AL) and National League (NL) vie for the best record in their respective leagues. Performance during this phase is critical; it determines who gets a direct ticket to the playoffs and who will have to fight for a spot through the Wild Card games. Teams aim to win their respective divisional titles, securing one of the six guaranteed playoff berths.

Wild Card Games: The First Hurdle

After the regular season concludes, the road to the World Series intensifies with the Wild Card games. Each league (AL and NL) features one Wild Card game, a do-or-die face-off between the two teams with the best records that did not win their divisions. These single-elimination games, understandably, are high-stakes affairs. Winning the Wild Card game propels the team into the Division Series, while losing ends their World Series dreams for the year.

Division Series: The Battle of Giants

Surviving the Wild Card game grants