MLB proposes shortened 154-game regular season, expanded division series in latest labor talks

Major League Baseball has put forward a plan to cut the regular season from 162 games to 154, beginning with the 2029 campaign, while simultaneously expanding the Division Series from a best‑of‑five to a best‑of‑seven format. The proposal, presented to the MLB Players Association as part of the latest round of collective‑bargaining talks, also calls for a regular‑season off day and argues that a shorter schedule would benefit player health and create additional national‑television opportunities. Under the postseason changes, which would take effect in 2027, higher‑seeded clubs would gain the ability to select their opponents in both the Wild Card and Division Series rounds. Specifically, the No. 3 seed would choose between the No. 5 and No. 6 seeds for the Wild Card Series, and the No. 1 seed would decide which Wild Card winner it faces in the Division Series. MLB further proposes adding nine postseason off days, potentially lengthening the playoff window to as many as 42 days to give starting pitchers more chances to appear in multiple games. The revised 154‑game slate would span roughly 180 days, compared with the current 162‑game schedule that stretches over 187 days. To accommodate the compression, teams would play four split doubleheaders—one against each division opponent—and most Mondays would become off days, except when games fall on national holidays or within limited national‑broadcast windows. The league insists that player salaries would not be reduced because of the shorter season, although any thresholds or incentives linked to games played would be adjusted accordingly. The Division Series would be contested over 11 days rather than the present nine, with extra rest days built into the format. MLB says it also aims to curb early‑weekday daytime playoff games and stagger start times, a move intended to boost attendance and television ratings while affording top pitchers additional workload. Advocates of the 154‑game model note that it would revert to a structure previously used before some leagues adopted the 162‑game standard in the early 1960s. The offer arrives amid a stark economic divide between the sides. MLB has linked its proposals to a salary‑cap‑and‑floor system, which the players’ union rejects. The existing collective‑bargaining agreement is set to expire on December 1, and failure to reach a new deal could trigger a lockout that would jeopardize the 2027 season. The MLBPA said it will review the league’s latest proposals before responding at the bargaining table. Read the full story at Lvsportsnetwork →