The 2010 baseball season is coming to an end, which means it’s playoff time. The rules of the playoffs can become a little tricky, especially when it comes down to the last few games of the season. Here are the basic rules you need to know.
Minnesota Twins Clinch the AL Central title. (AP Images)
- Eight teams make the playoffs. Three teams from the American League and Three teams from the NationalLeague.
- The fourth team with the next best record in each league will get the wildcard.
- If there is a tie for the division or the wildcard, there is a one playoff game the day after the season to determine the winner.
- The first round is the division series. This is the best of five, played between the top five teams in the division. The teams with the best record get home-field advantage.
- The winners of the division series move on to the American and National League Champion Series. This is best of seven games.
- The winners of the ALCS and the NLCS move on to play in the World Series. Home field advantage this year will go to the NLCS winner, because they won the All Star Game.
In the American League Central Division, the Minnesota Twins have already clinched the title. So the Twins are in the playoffs. The rest of the positions are still TBD.
As the season comes to a close, what teams do you expect to make it to the playoffs?
The Sporty Gal 