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    organization

    Major League Baseball (MLB)

    Also known as MLB, Major League Baseball

    Major League Baseball (MLB) is the top professional baseball league in North America, with 30 teams and a 12-team postseason.[1][2] As of 11 October 2026 its postseason had reached the League Championship Series, and its collective bargaining agreement with players expires on 1 December 2026.[3][4]

    Editor reviewedUpdated WikiSports
    Key facts

    Major League Baseball is North America’s top professional baseball league. Its 30 teams are split into the American League (AL) and National League (NL), each with three divisions.[1][5][6] In October 2026 the league is in the middle of its postseason and preparing for labor talks that could stop play after 1 December.[3][4]

    Season structure

    Each team plays a 162-game regular season. In October 2026 MLB proposed cutting that to 154 games from 2029, but only if players accept a salary cap.[7] Ties in the standings are settled by formula, starting with head-to-head record. MLB no longer plays tiebreaker games.[8]

    The season ends with a 12-team postseason that MLB introduced in 2022: three division winners and three Wild Cards from each league.[2][9] The top two seeds in each league get byes. The others play a best-of-three Wild Card Series. Then come a best-of-five Division Series and best-of-seven League Championship Series and World Series.[10][11][12] The full rules are in How the MLB postseason works.

    In 2026 MLB introduced the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System. It applies in the postseason under the same rules as in the regular season.[13]

    The 2026 season

    The Milwaukee Brewers had MLB’s best record in 2026 at 103-59, a franchise record. The Dodgers went 100-62 and the Tampa Bay Rays 98-64.[14][15] The Dodgers came into October as two-time defending champions.[16] By 11 October the Dodgers, Brewers and Rays had reached the League Championship Series. The Guardians and White Sox were scheduled to play a deciding Game 5 for the last spot.[17][18][19][20] The 2026 postseason tracker has results.

    Labor relations

    The current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between owners and the MLB Players Association (MLBPA) was ratified in March 2022 and ended a 99-day lockout.[21] It expires at 11:59 p.m. on 1 December 2026.[4] Owners have proposed a salary cap of $245.3 million with a $171.2 million payroll floor. The union opposes any cap.[22][23] MLB labor talks 2026 sets out both sides’ positions.

    Leadership

    Rob Manfred is MLB’s commissioner.[24] Bruce Meyer has led the players’ union as interim executive director since Tony Clark resigned at the start of 2026 spring training.[25]

    Broadcasting

    For the 2026 League Championship Series, TNT Sports (TBS, truTV, HBO Max) carries the ALCS. FOX and FS1 carry the NLCS and the World Series.[26][27] NBC held the rights to the entire 2026 Wild Card round.[28] Prices are in the how-to-watch guide.

    Next in the crash course

    Questions readers ask

    How many teams are in MLB?

    There are 30 MLB teams.[1]

    How many teams make the MLB playoffs?

    Twelve - six from each league, made up of three division winners and three Wild Card teams per league.[2]

    Who won the last World Series?

    The Los Angeles Dodgers won the previous two World Series, in 2024 and 2025.[16]

    When does the MLB labor agreement expire?

    At 11:59 p.m. on 1 December 2026, after the World Series.[4]

    Is MLB the only major US league without a salary cap?

    Yes. CNBC reports that MLB is the only major American sports league without a cap, and a cap is the most contentious issue in the 2026 labor talks.[23]

    Sources

    · 28 claims from 7 publishers

    Each numbered claim is a statement we checked against the sources listed with it. Tap a number in the text to see its sources in place.

    1. [1]

      MLB's proposal would also centralise local media revenue equally among the 30 teams, share it 50-50 with players and replace the current revenue-sharing plan. reportedas of 2026-05-28

    2. [2]

      The MLB postseason has 12 teams, six from each league - the three division winners and three Wild Card teams in each league. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    3. [3]

      The 2026 NLCS (Dodgers at Brewers) was scheduled to open on 11 October, and the ALCS (White Sox or Guardians at Rays) on 12 October; Game 7s, if needed, were set for 19 and 20 October. confirmedas of 2026-10-09

    4. [4]

      MLB's collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expires at 11:59 p.m. on 1 December 2026, after the World Series. confirmedas of 2026-10-08

    5. [5]

      The 2026 American League seeds were No. 1 Tampa Bay Rays (AL East), No. 2 Cleveland Guardians (AL Central), No. 3 Houston Astros (AL West), No. 4 New York Yankees, No. 5 Boston Red Sox and No. 6 Chicago White Sox. confirmedas of 2026-09-27

    6. [6]

      The 2026 National League seeds were No. 1 Milwaukee Brewers (NL Central), No. 2 Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West), No. 3 Atlanta Braves (NL East), No. 4 San Diego Padres, No. 5 Chicago Cubs and No. 6 Philadelphia Phillies. confirmedas of 2026-09-27

    7. [7]

      On 8 October 2026 MLB proposed cutting the regular season from 162 to 154 games from 2029, contingent on players accepting a salary cap and floor. confirmedas of 2026-10-08

    8. [8]

      MLB no longer plays tiebreaker games (Game 163); ties are resolved mathematically, starting with head-to-head record. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    9. [9]

      MLB introduced its current 12-team postseason format in 2022, replacing the single-elimination Wild Card Game with a best-of-three Wild Card Series. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    10. [10]

      In each league the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds receive first-round byes and go straight to the Division Series. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    11. [11]

      The Division Series is best-of-five in a 2-2-1 format with home-field advantage to the higher seed; the No. 1 seed plays the winner of the 4-5 Wild Card Series and the No. 2 seed plays the winner of the 3-6 series. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    12. [12]

      MLB's 2026 schedule lists each League Championship Series and the World Series as up to seven games, with the later games played only if necessary (best-of-seven). confirmedas of 2026-10-09

    13. [13]

      The Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System debuted in MLB in 2026 and operates in the postseason under the same rules as in the regular season. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    14. [14]

      In the 2026 regular season the Milwaukee Brewers went 103-59, the Los Angeles Dodgers 100-62 and the Tampa Bay Rays 98-64. confirmedas of 2026-09-27

    15. [15]

      The Brewers' 103 wins in 2026 were the most in MLB and a franchise record; Milwaukee has never won a World Series. confirmedas of 2026-10-08

    16. [16]

      The Los Angeles Dodgers won the previous two World Series (2024 and 2025) and entered the 2026 postseason seeking a third straight title. confirmedas of 2026-10-08

    17. [17]

      The Dodgers beat the Braves 3-1 in the 2026 NLDS, clinching with a 4-1 win in Atlanta on 7 October. confirmedas of 2026-10-07

    18. [18]

      The Brewers beat the Padres 3-1 in the 2026 NLDS, clinching with a 3-1 win in San Diego on 7 October. confirmedas of 2026-10-07

    19. [19]

      The Rays swept the Yankees 3-0 in the 2026 ALDS, winning 1-0, 5-2 and 4-3, to reach the ALCS. confirmedas of 2026-10-07

    20. [20]

      ALDS Game 5 between the White Sox and Guardians was scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Saturday 10 October in Cleveland, with the winner advancing to face the Rays in the ALCS. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    21. [21]

      The current MLB CBA was ratified in March 2022, ending a 99-day owners' lockout that delayed the 2022 season. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    22. [22]

      MLB owners proposed a $245.3 million salary cap and a $171.2 million payroll floor, the first salary-cap proposal since the 1994-95 strike, according to a May 2026 report. reportedas of 2026-05-28

    23. [23]

      A salary cap is the most contentious issue in the 2026 MLB labor talks; MLB is the only major American sports league without one. confirmedas of 2026-10-08

    24. [24]

      Commissioner Rob Manfred said in July 2026 that owners were more united than at any time in his tenure and framed the cap as a response to fan concerns about competitive balance. confirmedas of 2026-07-15

    25. [25]

      Bruce Meyer has led the MLB Players Association as interim executive director since Tony Clark resigned as 2026 spring training began. confirmedas of 2026-07-15

    26. [26]

      The 2026 ALCS airs on TNT Sports platforms (TBS, truTV and HBO Max, with Spanish on UniMas) and the NLCS on FOX and FS1, FOX Deportes and FOX One; ESPN Radio carries every postseason game nationally. confirmedas of 2026-10-09

    27. [27]

      The 2026 World Series is scheduled to start on Friday 23 October and, if it goes seven games, end on Saturday 31 October, with all games on FOX (streaming on FOX One, Spanish on FOX Deportes); Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 are at the team with the better 2026 record. confirmedas of 2026-10-09

    28. [28]

      NBC held rights to the entire 2026 Wild Card round, and the White Sox-Astros and Cubs-Padres series aired exclusively on the Peacock streaming service. confirmedas of 2026-09-29

    Revision history (1)
    1. Page created.

    Created Oct 11, 2026. Last reviewed by an editor on Oct 11, 2026. Next scheduled review: Dec 2, 2026.

    Cite this page

    "Major League Baseball (MLB)." ContentLora, updated Oct 11, 2026. https://contentlora.com/wiki/major-league-baseball

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