MLB proposes 154-game season and expanded playoffs starting in 2029
Major League Baseball has submitted a proposal to the Players Association that would shorten the regular season from 162 to 154 games beginning in 2029, coinciding with the start of the league's next national media deals. The proposal would also restructure the postseason by expanding the Division Series from a best-of-five to a best-of-seven format, and would introduce a seeding system that allows top teams in each league to choose their postseason opponents in both the Wild Card and Division Series rounds. Under the schedule change, teams would receive a scheduled day off every Monday, a feature MLB says would benefit player health and reduce roster movement, and the league stated it would not reduce player salaries to account for the shorter season. According to the proposal, the added off-days and staggered postseason scheduling would create new national broadcast windows and reduce the number of weekday daytime playoff games.
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.
Why it matters
For brands: Sponsors and advertisers could benefit from a restructured postseason with more off-days, staggered scheduling, and high-profile matchups driven by opponent-selection drama.
For media: The proposal would create a new exclusive national broadcast window on Mondays and reduce the number of low-viewership weekday afternoon playoff games, potentially increasing the value of MLB media rights.
For athletes: Players would gain weekly scheduled days off and face no salary reduction under the proposed 154-game schedule, though bonus thresholds and similar contract provisions would be adjusted proportionally.
Read the full story at MLB.com news
Sources
- MLB.com news · Mark Feinsand: MLB proposes 154-game schedule, new playoff features
- Front Office Sports · Eric Fisher: MLB Owners Pitch 154-Game Season, Expanded Playoffs in Labor Talks
- The Athletic: MLB proposes 154-game regular season, playoff opponent selection
- CBS Sports · Mike Axisa: MLB proposes 154-game regular season, bulked-up playoff schedule with a twist in latest labor talks