National League Division Series: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
|||
(39 intermediate revisions by 10 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
⚫ | |||
{{Short description|North American baseball qualifying series}} |
{{Short description|North American baseball qualifying series}} |
||
⚫ | |||
{{MLB playoffs sidebar}} |
{{MLB playoffs sidebar}} |
||
In [[Major League Baseball]], the '''National League Division Series''' ('''NLDS''') determines which two teams from the [[National League]] will advance to the [[National League Championship Series]]. The Division Series consists of two best-of-five series, featuring each of the two division winners with the best records and the winners of the [[wild card (sports)|wild-card]] play-offs. |
In [[Major League Baseball]], the '''National League Division Series''' ('''NLDS''') determines which two teams from the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] will advance to the [[National League Championship Series]]. The Division Series consists of two best-of-five series, featuring each of the two division winners with the best records and the winners of the [[wild card (sports)|wild-card]] play-offs. |
||
==History== |
==History== |
||
{{main|Division Series}} |
{{main|Division Series}} |
||
The Division Series was implemented in 1981 as a one-off tournament because of a [[1981 Major League Baseball strike|midseason strike]], with the first place teams before the strike taking on the teams in first place after the strike. In 1981, a split-season format forced the first ever divisional playoff series, in which the [[1981 Montreal Expos season|Montreal Expos]] won the Eastern Division series over the [[1981 Philadelphia Phillies season|Philadelphia Phillies]] in five games while in the Western Division, the [[1981 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]] defeated the [[1981 Houston Astros season|Houston Astros]], also in five games (the Astros were members of the National League until 2012). |
The Division Series was implemented in 1981 as a one-off tournament because of a [[1981 Major League Baseball strike|midseason strike]], with the first place teams before the strike taking on the teams in first place after the strike. In 1981, a split-season format forced the first ever divisional playoff series, in which the [[1981 Montreal Expos season|Montreal Expos]] won the Eastern Division series over the [[1981 Philadelphia Phillies season|Philadelphia Phillies]] in five games while in the Western Division, the [[1981 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]] defeated the [[1981 Houston Astros season|Houston Astros]], also in five games (the Astros were members of the National League until 2012). |
||
In 1994, it was returned permanently when [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) restructured each league into three divisions, but with a different format than in 1981. Each of the division winners, along with one [[Wild card (sports)|wild card]] team, qualify for the Division Series. Despite being planned for the 1994 season, the post-season was cancelled that year due to the [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike]]. In 1995, the first season to feature a division series, the Eastern Division champion [[1995 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]] defeated the wild card [[1995 Colorado Rockies season|Colorado Rockies]] three games to one, while the Central Division champion [[1995 Cincinnati Reds season|Cincinnati Reds]] defeated the Western Division champion [[1995 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]] in a three |
In 1994, it was returned permanently when [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) restructured each league into three divisions, but with a different format than in 1981. Each of the division winners, along with one [[Wild card (sports)|wild card]] team, qualify for the Division Series. Despite being planned for the 1994 season, the post-season was cancelled that year due to the [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike]]. In 1995, the first season to feature a division series, the Eastern Division champion [[1995 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]] defeated the wild card [[1995 Colorado Rockies season|Colorado Rockies]] three games to one, while the Central Division champion [[1995 Cincinnati Reds season|Cincinnati Reds]] defeated the Western Division champion [[1995 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]] in a three-game sweep. |
||
From 1994 to 2011, the wild card was given to the team in the National League with the best overall record that was ''not'' a division champion. Beginning with the [[2012 Major League Baseball season|2012 season]], a second wild card team was added, and the two wild card teams play a single-game playoff to determine which team would play in the NLDS. For the [[2020 Major League Baseball season]] only, there was an expanded playoff format, owing to an abbreviated 60-game regular season due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. Eight teams qualified from the National League: the top two teams in each division plus the next two best records among the remaining teams. These eight teams played a best-of-three |
From 1994 to 2011, the wild card was given to the team in the National League with the best overall record that was ''not'' a division champion. Beginning with the [[2012 Major League Baseball season|2012 season]], a second wild card team was added, and the two wild card teams play a single-game playoff to determine which team would play in the NLDS. For the [[2020 Major League Baseball season]] only, there was an expanded playoff format, owing to an abbreviated 60-game regular season due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. Eight teams qualified from the National League: the top two teams in each division plus the next two best records among the remaining teams. These eight teams played a best-of-three-game series to determine placement in the NLDS. The regular format returned for the 2021 season. |
||
As of 2021, the [[Atlanta Braves]] have currently played in the most NL division series with seventeen appearances. The [[St. Louis Cardinals]] have currently won the most NL division series, winning eleven of the fourteen series in which they have played. The [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] (who finished with a losing record from 1993 to 2012) were the last team to make their first appearance in the NL division series, making their debut in 2013 after winning the [[2013 National League Wild Card Game]]. In [[2008 in baseball|2008]], the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] became the first team to play in division series in both leagues when they won the National League wild card, their first postseason berth since winning the [[American League East Division]] title in [[1982 in baseball|1982]] before switching leagues in [[1998 in baseball|1998]]. Milwaukee had competed in an [[1981 American League Division Series|American League Division Series]] in the [[1981 Major League Baseball strike|strike-shortened]] [[1981 in baseball|1981 season]]. |
As of 2021, the [[Atlanta Braves]] have currently played in the most NL division series with seventeen appearances. The [[St. Louis Cardinals]] have currently won the most NL division series, winning eleven of the fourteen series in which they have played. The [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] (who finished with a losing record from 1993 to 2012) were the last team to make their first appearance in the NL division series, making their debut in 2013 after winning the [[2013 National League Wild Card Game]]. In [[2008 in baseball|2008]], the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] became the first team to play in division series in both leagues when they won the National League wild card, their first postseason berth since winning the [[American League East Division]] title in [[1982 in baseball|1982]] before switching leagues in [[1998 in baseball|1998]]. Milwaukee had competed in an [[1981 American League Division Series|American League Division Series]] in the [[1981 Major League Baseball strike|strike-shortened]] [[1981 in baseball|1981 season]]. |
||
===Format=== |
===Format=== |
||
The |
The NLDS is a best-of-five series where the divisional winner with the best winning percentage in the regular season hosts the winner of the [[Wild Card Series]] between the top two wild card teams in one matchup, and the divisional winner with the second best winning percentage hosts the winner of the other Wild Card Series between the lowest-seeded divisional winner and the lowest-seeded wild card team.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-playoff-format-faq | title=New MLB postseason format, explained | website=[[MLB.com]] }}</ref> (From 2012 to 2021, the wild card team was assigned to play the divisional winner with the best winning percentage in the regular season in one series, and the other two division winners met in the other series.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kepner |first=Tyler |date=2012-03-05 |title=For No. 1 Seeds, Road to Title Comes With Bumps |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/05/sports/baseball/adding-wild-card-play-in-puts-no-1-seeds-in-tough-spot.html |access-date=2023-03-09 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> From 1998 to 2011, if the wild-card team and the division winner with the best record were from the same division, the wild-card team played the division winner with the second-best record, and the remaining two division leaders played each other.) The two series winners move on to the best-of-seven NLCS. According to [[Nate Silver]], the advent of this playoff series, and especially of the wild card, has caused teams to focus more on "getting to the playoffs" rather than "winning the pennant" as the primary goal of the regular season.<ref>[[Nate Silver]], "Selig's Dream: The Wild Card as Enabler of Pennant Races," in Steven Goldman, Ed., ''It Ain't Over 'til It's Over'' (New York: Basic Books): 170-178.</ref> |
||
From 2012 to 2021, the wild card team that advances to the Division Series was to face the number 1 seed, regardless whether or not they are in the same division. The two series winners move on to the best-of-seven NLCS. Beginning with the 2022 season, the winner between the lowest |
From 2012 to 2021, the wild card team that advances to the Division Series was to face the number 1 seed, regardless whether or not they are in the same division.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120229&content_id=26927024&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb|title=Addition of Wild Card berths finalized for 2012|first=Barry M.|last=Bloom|work=MLB.com|date=March 2, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-03-02|title=MLB to expand playoffs by two teams to 10|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/7638357/mlb-expand-playoffs-two-teams-10|access-date=2021-04-08|website=ESPN.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rudnansky |first=Ryan |title=MLB Playoff Format 2012: Explaining Wild Card, Divisional Series Changes & More |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1356314-mlb-playoff-format-2012-explaining-wild-card-divisional-series-changes-more |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Kepner |first=Tyler |date=2012-10-05 |title=In Wild-Card Play-In Game, It’s Win or You’re Out |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/sports/baseball/in-wild-card-play-in-game-its-win-or-youre-out.html |access-date=2023-03-09 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The two series winners move on to the best-of-seven NLCS. Beginning with the 2022 season, the winner between the lowest-ranked division winner and lowest-ranked wild card team faces the #2 seed division winner in the Division Series, while the 4 v. 5 wild card winner faces the #1 seed, as there is no reseeding even if the 6 seed wild card advances. Home-field advantage goes to the team with the better regular season record (or head-to-head record if there is a tie between two or more teams), except for the wild-card team, which never receives the home-field advantage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New MLB postseason format, explained |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-playoff-format-faq |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kepner |first=Tyler |date=2022-10-06 |title=Baseball’s Postseason Is Evolving, for Better or Worse |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/06/sports/baseball/wild-card-postseason-preview.html |access-date=2023-03-09 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=12teamplayoff>{{Cite web|title=Everything you need to know about '22 season|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-2022-season-faq|access-date=2022-03-10|website=MLB.com|language=en}}</ref> |
||
Beginning in 2003, MLB has implemented a new rule to give the team from the league that wins the All-Star Game |
Beginning in 2003, MLB has implemented a new rule to give the team with the best regular season record from the league that wins the All-Star Game a slightly greater advantage. In order to spread out the Division Series games for broadcast purposes, the two NLDS series follow one of two off-day schedules. Starting in 2007, after consulting the [[MLBPA]], MLB has decided to allow the team with the best record in the league that wins the All-Star Game to choose whether to use the seven-day schedule (1-2-off-3-4-off-5) or the eight-day schedule (1-off-2-off-3-4-off-5). The team only gets to choose the schedule; the opponent is still determined by win–loss records. |
||
Initially, the best-of-5 series played in a 2–3 format, with the first two games set at home for the lower seed team and the last three for the higher seed.<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1984_NLCS.shtml 1984 NL Championship Series], Baseball-Reference.com</ref><ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1997_ALDS1.shtml 1997 AL Division Series], Baseball-Reference.com</ref> Since [[1998 Major League Baseball season|1998]], the series has followed a 2–2–1 format,<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | editor-last = Gillette | editor-first = Gary | editor2-last = Palmer | editor2-first = Pete | encyclopedia = The 2006 ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia | title = October Classics: Postseason Series and Playoffs | page = 1656 | publisher = Sterling Publishing | year = 2006 | location = New York}}</ref> where the higher seed team plays at home in Games 1 and 2, the lower seed plays at home in Game 3 and Game 4 (if necessary), and if a Game 5 is needed, the teams return to the higher seed's field. When MLB added a second wild card team in [[2012 Major League Baseball season|2012]], the Division Series re-adopted the 2–3 format due to scheduling conflicts. However, it reverted to the 2–2–1 format starting the next season, [[2013 Major League Baseball season|2013]].<ref name="SportingNews-2012WildCard">{{cite web | author = [[Sporting News]]| title = MLB expands playoff field to 10 teams with addition of two wild cards| date = 2012-03-02| url = http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2012-03-02/mlb-wild-card-two-more-playoff-expansion-postseason| access-date =October 28, 2013}}</ref> |
Initially, the best-of-5 series played in a 2–3 format, with the first two games set at home for the lower seed team and the last three for the higher seed.<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1984_NLCS.shtml 1984 NL Championship Series], Baseball-Reference.com</ref><ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1997_ALDS1.shtml 1997 AL Division Series], Baseball-Reference.com</ref> Since [[1998 Major League Baseball season|1998]], the series has followed a 2–2–1 format,<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | editor-last = Gillette | editor-first = Gary | editor2-last = Palmer | editor2-first = Pete | encyclopedia = The 2006 ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia | title = October Classics: Postseason Series and Playoffs | page = 1656 | publisher = Sterling Publishing | year = 2006 | location = New York}}</ref> where the higher seed team plays at home in Games 1 and 2, the lower seed plays at home in Game 3 and Game 4 (if necessary), and if a Game 5 is needed, the teams return to the higher seed's field. When MLB added a second wild card team in [[2012 Major League Baseball season|2012]], the Division Series re-adopted the 2–3 format due to scheduling conflicts. However, it reverted to the 2–2–1 format starting the next season, [[2013 Major League Baseball season|2013]].<ref name="SportingNews-2012WildCard">{{cite web | author = [[Sporting News]]| title = MLB expands playoff field to 10 teams with addition of two wild cards| date = 2012-03-02| url = http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2012-03-02/mlb-wild-card-two-more-playoff-expansion-postseason| access-date =October 28, 2013}}</ref> |
||
Line 299: | Line 299: | ||
|- |
|- |
||
|[[2022 Philadelphia Phillies season|Philadelphia Phillies]]{{sup|{{dagger}}}} ||{{sortname|Rob|Thomson}} ||align="center"|3–1 || [[2022 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]] ||{{sortname|Brian|Snitker}} |
|[[2022 Philadelphia Phillies season|Philadelphia Phillies]]{{sup|{{dagger}}}} ||{{sortname|Rob|Thomson}} ||align="center"|3–1 || [[2022 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]] ||{{sortname|Brian|Snitker}} |
||
⚫ | |||
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" rowspan="2"| [[2023 National League Division Series|2023]] |
|||
| [[2023 Philadelphia Phillies season|Philadelphia Phillies]]{{sup|{{dagger}}}} || {{sortname|Rob|Thomson}} || align=center|3–1 || [[2023 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]] || {{sortname|Brian|Snitker}} |
|||
⚫ | |||
| [[2023 Arizona Diamondbacks season|Arizona Diamondbacks]]{{sup|{{dagger}}}} || {{sortname|Torey|Lovullo}} || align=center|3–0 || [[2023 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]] || {{sortname|Dave|Roberts|Dave Roberts (outfielder)}} |
|||
⚫ | |||
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" rowspan="2"| [[2024 National League Division Series|2024]] |
|||
| [[2024 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]] || {{sortname|Dave|Roberts|Dave Roberts (outfielder)}} || align=center|3–2 || [[2024 San Diego Padres season|San Diego Padres]]{{sup|{{dagger}}}} || {{sortname|Mike|Shildt}} |
|||
|- |
|||
| [[2024 New York Mets season|New York Mets]]{{sup|{{dagger}}}} || {{sortname|Carlos|Mendoza|Carlos Mendoza (baseball manager)}} || align=center|3–1 || [[2024 Philadelphia Phillies season|Philadelphia Phillies]] || {{sortname|Rob|Thomson}} |
|||
|} |
|} |
||
Line 314: | Line 324: | ||
!Game<br>win % |
!Game<br>win % |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|| |
||19|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Atlanta Braves]]||8||11||{{winpct|8|11}}||2021||2023||38||36||{{winpct|38|36}} |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|| |
||19|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Los Angeles Dodgers]]||10||9||{{winpct|10|9}}||2024||2024||37||37||{{winpct|37|37}} |
||
|- |
|- |
||
||14|| style="text-align:left;" |[[St. Louis Cardinals]]||11||3||{{winpct|11|3}}||2019||2019||36||20||{{winpct|36|20}} |
||14|| style="text-align:left;" |[[St. Louis Cardinals]]||11||3||{{winpct|11|3}}||2019||2019||36||20||{{winpct|36|20}} |
||
|- |
|- |
||
||9|| style="text-align:left;" |[[San Francisco Giants]]||4||5||{{winpct|4|5}}||2014||2021||17||21||{{winpct|17|21}} |
||9|| style="text-align:left;" |[[San Francisco Giants]]||4||5||{{winpct|4|5}}||2014||2021||17||21||{{winpct|17|21}} |
||
|- |
|||
⚫ | |||
|- |
|- |
||
||7|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Houston Astros]]{{efn|name=HOU|The Houston Astros moved to the [[American League]] in 2013.}}||2||5||{{winpct|2|5}}||2005||2005||10||18||{{winpct|10|18}} |
||7|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Houston Astros]]{{efn|name=HOU|The Houston Astros moved to the [[American League]] in 2013.}}||2||5||{{winpct|2|5}}||2005||2005||10||18||{{winpct|10|18}} |
||
Line 326: | Line 338: | ||
||7|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Chicago Cubs]]||4||3||{{winpct|4|3}}||2017||2017||12||15||{{winpct|12|15}} |
||7|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Chicago Cubs]]||4||3||{{winpct|4|3}}||2017||2017||12||15||{{winpct|12|15}} |
||
|- |
|- |
||
||7|| style="text-align:left;" |[[ |
||7|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Arizona Diamondbacks]]||3||4||{{winpct|3|4}}||2023||2023||12||14||{{winpct|12|14}} |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|| |
||7|| style="text-align:left;" |[[San Diego Padres]]||2||5||{{winpct|2|5}}||2022||2024||9||17||{{winpct|9|17}} |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
|- |
|- |
||
||6|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Washington Nationals]]||2||4||{{winpct|2|4}}||2019||2019||13||16||{{winpct|13|16}} |
||6|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Washington Nationals]]||2||4||{{winpct|2|4}}||2019||2019||13||16||{{winpct|13|16}} |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|| |
||5|| style="text-align:left;" |[[New York Mets]]||5||0||{{winpct|5|0}}||2024||2024||15||5||{{winpct|15|5}} |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
|- |
|- |
||
||4|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Colorado Rockies]]||1||3||{{winpct|1|3}}||2007||2018||5||9||{{winpct|5|9}} |
||4|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Colorado Rockies]]||1||3||{{winpct|1|3}}||2007||2018||5||9||{{winpct|5|9}} |
||
|- |
|||
⚫ | |||
|- |
|- |
||
||3|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Cincinnati Reds]]||1||2||{{winpct|1|2}}||1995||2012||5||6||{{winpct|5|6}} |
||3|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Cincinnati Reds]]||1||2||{{winpct|1|2}}||1995||2012||5||6||{{winpct|5|6}} |
||
Line 359: | Line 369: | ||
||14|| style="text-align:left;" |[[St. Louis Cardinals]]||11||3||{{winpct|11|3}}|| align="left" | '''[[1996 National League Division Series|1996]]''', '''[[2000 National League Division Series|2000]]''', [[2001 National League Division Series|2001]], '''[[2002 National League Division Series|2002]]''', '''[[2004 National League Division Series|2004]]''', '''[[2005 National League Division Series|2005]]''', '''[[2006 National League Division Series|2006]]''', [[2009 National League Division Series|2009]], '''[[2011 National League Division Series|2011]]''', '''[[2012 National League Division Series|2012]]''', '''[[2013 National League Division Series|2013]]''', '''[[2014 National League Division Series|2014]]''', [[2015 National League Division Series|2015]], '''[[2019 National League Division Series|2019]]''' |
||14|| style="text-align:left;" |[[St. Louis Cardinals]]||11||3||{{winpct|11|3}}|| align="left" | '''[[1996 National League Division Series|1996]]''', '''[[2000 National League Division Series|2000]]''', [[2001 National League Division Series|2001]], '''[[2002 National League Division Series|2002]]''', '''[[2004 National League Division Series|2004]]''', '''[[2005 National League Division Series|2005]]''', '''[[2006 National League Division Series|2006]]''', [[2009 National League Division Series|2009]], '''[[2011 National League Division Series|2011]]''', '''[[2012 National League Division Series|2012]]''', '''[[2013 National League Division Series|2013]]''', '''[[2014 National League Division Series|2014]]''', [[2015 National League Division Series|2015]], '''[[2019 National League Division Series|2019]]''' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|| |
||19|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Los Angeles Dodgers]]||10||9||{{winpct|10|9}}|| align="left" | '''[[1981 National League Division Series|1981]]''', [[1995 National League Division Series|1995]], [[1996 National League Division Series|1996]], [[2004 National League Division Series|2004]], [[2006 National League Division Series|2006]], '''[[2008 National League Division Series|2008]]''', '''[[2009 National League Division Series|2009]]''', '''[[2013 National League Division Series|2013]]''', [[2014 National League Division Series|2014]], [[2015 National League Division Series|2015]], '''[[2016 National League Division Series|2016]]''', '''[[2017 National League Division Series|2017]]''', '''[[2018 National League Division Series|2018]]''', [[2019 National League Division Series|2019]], '''[[2020 National League Division Series|2020]]''', '''[[2021 National League Division Series|2021]]''', [[2022 National League Division Series|2022]], [[2023 National League Division Series|2023]], '''[[2024 National League Division Series|2024]]''' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|| |
||19|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Atlanta Braves]]||8||11||{{winpct|8|11}}|| align="left" | '''[[1995 National League Division Series|1995]]''', '''[[1996 National League Division Series|1996]]''', '''[[1997 National League Division Series|1997]]''', '''[[1998 National League Division Series|1998]]''', '''[[1999 National League Division Series|1999]]''', [[2000 National League Division Series|2000]], '''[[2001 National League Division Series|2001]]''', [[2002 National League Division Series|2002]], [[2003 National League Division Series|2003]], [[2004 National League Division Series|2004]], [[2005 National League Division Series|2005]], [[2010 National League Division Series|2010]], [[2013 National League Division Series|2013]], [[2018 National League Division Series|2018]], [[2019 National League Division Series|2019]], '''[[2020 National League Division Series|2020]]''', '''[[2021 National League Division Series|2021]]''', [[2022 National League Division Series|2022]], [[2023 National League Division Series|2023]] |
||
|- |
|- |
||
||9|| style="text-align:left;" |[[ |
||9|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Philadelphia Phillies]]||5||4||{{winpct|5|4}}|| align="left" | [[1981 National League Division Series|1981]], [[2007 National League Division Series|2007]], '''[[2008 National League Division Series|2008]]''', '''[[2009 National League Division Series|2009]]''', '''[[2010 National League Division Series|2010]]''', [[2011 National League Division Series|2011]], '''[[2022 National League Division Series|2022]]''', '''[[2023 National League Division Series|2023]]''', [[2024 National League Division Series|2024]] |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|| |
||5|| style="text-align:left;" |[[New York Mets]]||5||0||{{winpct|5|0}}|| align="left" | '''[[1999 National League Division Series|1999]]''', '''[[2000 National League Division Series|2000]]''', '''[[2006 National League Division Series|2006]]''', '''[[2015 National League Division Series|2015]]''', '''[[2024 National League Division Series|2024]]''' |
||
|- |
|||
⚫ | ||9|| style="text-align:left;" |[[San Francisco Giants]]||4||5||{{winpct|4|5}}|| align="left" | [[1997 National League Division Series|1997]], [[2000 National League Division Series|2000]], '''[[2002 National League Division Series|2002]]''', [[2003 National League Division Series|2003]], '''[[2010 National League Division Series|2010]]''', '''[[2012 National League Division Series|2012]]''', '''[[2014 National League Division Series|2014]]''', [[2016 National League Division Series|2016]], [[2021 National League Division Series|2021]] |
||
|- |
|- |
||
||7|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Chicago Cubs]]||4||3||{{winpct|4|3}}|| align="left" | [[1998 National League Division Series|1998]], '''[[2003 National League Division Series|2003]]''', [[2007 National League Division Series|2007]], [[2008 National League Division Series|2008]], '''[[2015 National League Division Series|2015]]''', '''[[2016 National League Division Series|2016]]''', '''[[2017 National League Division Series|2017]]''' |
||7|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Chicago Cubs]]||4||3||{{winpct|4|3}}|| align="left" | [[1998 National League Division Series|1998]], '''[[2003 National League Division Series|2003]]''', [[2007 National League Division Series|2007]], [[2008 National League Division Series|2008]], '''[[2015 National League Division Series|2015]]''', '''[[2016 National League Division Series|2016]]''', '''[[2017 National League Division Series|2017]]''' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|| |
||7|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Arizona Diamondbacks]]||3||4||{{winpct|3|4}}|| align="left" | [[1999 National League Division Series|1999]], '''[[2001 National League Division Series|2001]]''', [[2002 National League Division Series|2002]], '''[[2007 National League Division Series|2007]]''', [[2011 National League Division Series|2011]], [[2017 National League Division Series|2017]], '''[[2023 National League Division Series|2023]]''' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
||7|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Houston Astros]]{{efn|name=HOU}} ||2||5||{{winpct|2|5}}|| align="left" | [[1981 National League Division Series|1981]], [[1997 National League Division Series|1997]], [[1998 National League Division Series|1998]], [[1999 National League Division Series|1999]], [[2001 National League Division Series|2001]], '''[[2004 National League Division Series|2004]]''', '''[[2005 National League Division Series|2005]]''' |
||7|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Houston Astros]]{{efn|name=HOU}} ||2||5||{{winpct|2|5}}|| align="left" | [[1981 National League Division Series|1981]], [[1997 National League Division Series|1997]], [[1998 National League Division Series|1998]], [[1999 National League Division Series|1999]], [[2001 National League Division Series|2001]], '''[[2004 National League Division Series|2004]]''', '''[[2005 National League Division Series|2005]]''' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|| |
||7|| style="text-align:left;" |[[San Diego Padres]]||2||5||{{winpct|2|5}}|| align="left" | [[1996 National League Division Series|1996]], '''[[1998 National League Division Series|1998]]''', [[2005 National League Division Series|2005]], [[2006 National League Division Series|2006]], [[2020 National League Division Series|2020]], '''[[2022 National League Division Series|2022]]''', [[2024 National League Division Series|2024]] |
||
|- |
|- |
||
||6|| style="text-align:left;" |[[ |
||6|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Washington Nationals]]||2||4||{{winpct|2|4}}|| align="left" | '''[[1981 National League Division Series|1981]]''', [[2012 National League Division Series|2012]], [[2014 National League Division Series|2014]], [[2016 National League Division Series|2016]], [[2017 National League Division Series|2017]], '''[[2019 National League Division Series|2019]]''' |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | || |
||
|- |
|- |
||
||4|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Milwaukee Brewers]]||2||2||{{winpct|2|2}}|| align="left" | [[2008 National League Division Series|2008]], '''[[2011 National League Division Series|2011]]''', '''[[2018 National League Division Series|2018]]''', [[2021 National League Division Series|2021]] |
||4|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Milwaukee Brewers]]||2||2||{{winpct|2|2}}|| align="left" | [[2008 National League Division Series|2008]], '''[[2011 National League Division Series|2011]]''', '''[[2018 National League Division Series|2018]]''', [[2021 National League Division Series|2021]] |
||
Line 407: | Line 417: | ||
| [[1996 National League Division Series|1996]], [[2005 National League Division Series|2005]], [[2006 National League Division Series|2006]] |
| [[1996 National League Division Series|1996]], [[2005 National League Division Series|2005]], [[2006 National League Division Series|2006]] |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|align="center"| 3 |
|align="center"| [[Cardinals-Dodgers rivalry|3]] |
||
| [[St. Louis Cardinals]] vs. [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] |
| [[St. Louis Cardinals]] vs. [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] |
||
| Cardinals, 2–1 |
| Cardinals, 2–1 |
||
Line 416: | Line 426: | ||
| Dodgers, 2–1 |
| Dodgers, 2–1 |
||
| [[1996 National League Division Series|1996]], [[2013 National League Division Series|2013]], [[2018 National League Division Series|2018]] |
| [[1996 National League Division Series|1996]], [[2013 National League Division Series|2013]], [[2018 National League Division Series|2018]] |
||
|- |
|||
|align="center"| [[Dodgers-Padres rivalry|3]] |
|||
| [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] vs. [[San Diego Padres]] |
|||
|Dodgers, 2–1 |
|||
| [[2020 National League Division Series|2020]], [[2022 National League Division Series|2022]], [[2024 National League Division Series|2024]] |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
|align="center"| 2 |
|align="center"| 2 |
||
Line 458: | Line 473: | ||
|- |
|- |
||
|align="center"| 2 |
|align="center"| 2 |
||
| [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] vs. [[ |
| [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] vs. [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] |
||
|Tied, 1–1 |
|Tied, 1–1 |
||
| [[ |
| [[2017 National League Division Series|2017]], [[2023 National League Division Series|2023]] |
||
|- |
|||
|align="center"| 2 |
|||
| [[Atlanta Braves]] vs. [[Philadelphia Phillies]] |
|||
|Phillies, 2–0 |
|||
| [[2022 National League Division Series|2022]], [[2023 National League Division Series|2023]] |
|||
|} |
|} |
||
NOTE: With the [[Houston Astros]] move to the American League at the conclusion of the 2012 season, the Braves vs. Astros series is not currently possible. |
NOTE: With the [[Houston Astros]] move to the American League at the conclusion of the 2012 season, the Braves vs. Astros series is not currently possible. |
Latest revision as of 19:27, 30 December 2024
Part of a series on the |
Major League Baseball postseason |
---|
Wild Card Series |
Division Series |
League Championship Series |
World Series |
Teams |
In Major League Baseball, the National League Division Series (NLDS) determines which two teams from the National League will advance to the National League Championship Series. The Division Series consists of two best-of-five series, featuring each of the two division winners with the best records and the winners of the wild-card play-offs.
History
[edit]The Division Series was implemented in 1981 as a one-off tournament because of a midseason strike, with the first place teams before the strike taking on the teams in first place after the strike. In 1981, a split-season format forced the first ever divisional playoff series, in which the Montreal Expos won the Eastern Division series over the Philadelphia Phillies in five games while in the Western Division, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Houston Astros, also in five games (the Astros were members of the National League until 2012).
In 1994, it was returned permanently when Major League Baseball (MLB) restructured each league into three divisions, but with a different format than in 1981. Each of the division winners, along with one wild card team, qualify for the Division Series. Despite being planned for the 1994 season, the post-season was cancelled that year due to the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike. In 1995, the first season to feature a division series, the Eastern Division champion Atlanta Braves defeated the wild card Colorado Rockies three games to one, while the Central Division champion Cincinnati Reds defeated the Western Division champion Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-game sweep.
From 1994 to 2011, the wild card was given to the team in the National League with the best overall record that was not a division champion. Beginning with the 2012 season, a second wild card team was added, and the two wild card teams play a single-game playoff to determine which team would play in the NLDS. For the 2020 Major League Baseball season only, there was an expanded playoff format, owing to an abbreviated 60-game regular season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eight teams qualified from the National League: the top two teams in each division plus the next two best records among the remaining teams. These eight teams played a best-of-three-game series to determine placement in the NLDS. The regular format returned for the 2021 season.
As of 2021, the Atlanta Braves have currently played in the most NL division series with seventeen appearances. The St. Louis Cardinals have currently won the most NL division series, winning eleven of the fourteen series in which they have played. The Pittsburgh Pirates (who finished with a losing record from 1993 to 2012) were the last team to make their first appearance in the NL division series, making their debut in 2013 after winning the 2013 National League Wild Card Game. In 2008, the Milwaukee Brewers became the first team to play in division series in both leagues when they won the National League wild card, their first postseason berth since winning the American League East Division title in 1982 before switching leagues in 1998. Milwaukee had competed in an American League Division Series in the strike-shortened 1981 season.
Format
[edit]The NLDS is a best-of-five series where the divisional winner with the best winning percentage in the regular season hosts the winner of the Wild Card Series between the top two wild card teams in one matchup, and the divisional winner with the second best winning percentage hosts the winner of the other Wild Card Series between the lowest-seeded divisional winner and the lowest-seeded wild card team.[1] (From 2012 to 2021, the wild card team was assigned to play the divisional winner with the best winning percentage in the regular season in one series, and the other two division winners met in the other series.[2] From 1998 to 2011, if the wild-card team and the division winner with the best record were from the same division, the wild-card team played the division winner with the second-best record, and the remaining two division leaders played each other.) The two series winners move on to the best-of-seven NLCS. According to Nate Silver, the advent of this playoff series, and especially of the wild card, has caused teams to focus more on "getting to the playoffs" rather than "winning the pennant" as the primary goal of the regular season.[3]
From 2012 to 2021, the wild card team that advances to the Division Series was to face the number 1 seed, regardless whether or not they are in the same division.[4][5][6][7] The two series winners move on to the best-of-seven NLCS. Beginning with the 2022 season, the winner between the lowest-ranked division winner and lowest-ranked wild card team faces the #2 seed division winner in the Division Series, while the 4 v. 5 wild card winner faces the #1 seed, as there is no reseeding even if the 6 seed wild card advances. Home-field advantage goes to the team with the better regular season record (or head-to-head record if there is a tie between two or more teams), except for the wild-card team, which never receives the home-field advantage.[8][9][10]
Beginning in 2003, MLB has implemented a new rule to give the team with the best regular season record from the league that wins the All-Star Game a slightly greater advantage. In order to spread out the Division Series games for broadcast purposes, the two NLDS series follow one of two off-day schedules. Starting in 2007, after consulting the MLBPA, MLB has decided to allow the team with the best record in the league that wins the All-Star Game to choose whether to use the seven-day schedule (1-2-off-3-4-off-5) or the eight-day schedule (1-off-2-off-3-4-off-5). The team only gets to choose the schedule; the opponent is still determined by win–loss records.
Initially, the best-of-5 series played in a 2–3 format, with the first two games set at home for the lower seed team and the last three for the higher seed.[11][12] Since 1998, the series has followed a 2–2–1 format,[13] where the higher seed team plays at home in Games 1 and 2, the lower seed plays at home in Game 3 and Game 4 (if necessary), and if a Game 5 is needed, the teams return to the higher seed's field. When MLB added a second wild card team in 2012, the Division Series re-adopted the 2–3 format due to scheduling conflicts. However, it reverted to the 2–2–1 format starting the next season, 2013.[14]
Results
[edit]† | Wild card |
---|
Appearances by team
[edit]Apps | Team | Wins | Losses | Win % | Most recent win |
Most recent appearance |
Games won |
Games lost |
Game win % |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
19 | Atlanta Braves | 8 | 11 | .421 | 2021 | 2023 | 38 | 36 | .514 |
19 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 10 | 9 | .526 | 2024 | 2024 | 37 | 37 | .500 |
14 | St. Louis Cardinals | 11 | 3 | .786 | 2019 | 2019 | 36 | 20 | .643 |
9 | San Francisco Giants | 4 | 5 | .444 | 2014 | 2021 | 17 | 21 | .447 |
9 | Philadelphia Phillies | 5 | 4 | .556 | 2023 | 2024 | 20 | 16 | .556 |
7 | Houston Astros[a] | 2 | 5 | .286 | 2005 | 2005 | 10 | 18 | .357 |
7 | Chicago Cubs | 4 | 3 | .571 | 2017 | 2017 | 12 | 15 | .444 |
7 | Arizona Diamondbacks | 3 | 4 | .429 | 2023 | 2023 | 12 | 14 | .462 |
7 | San Diego Padres | 2 | 5 | .286 | 2022 | 2024 | 9 | 17 | .346 |
6 | Washington Nationals | 2 | 4 | .333 | 2019 | 2019 | 13 | 16 | .448 |
5 | New York Mets | 5 | 0 | 1.000 | 2024 | 2024 | 15 | 5 | .750 |
4 | Colorado Rockies | 1 | 3 | .250 | 2007 | 2018 | 5 | 9 | .357 |
4 | Milwaukee Brewers | 2 | 2 | .500 | 2018 | 2021 | 8 | 8 | .500 |
3 | Cincinnati Reds | 1 | 2 | .333 | 1995 | 2012 | 5 | 6 | .455 |
3 | Miami Marlins | 2 | 1 | .667 | 2003 | 2020 | 6 | 4 | .600 |
1 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 0 | 1 | .000 | Never | 2013 | 2 | 3 | .400 |
Years of appearance
[edit]In the sortable table below, teams are ordered first by number of wins, then by number of appearances, and finally by year of first appearance. In the "Season(s)" column, bold years indicate winning appearances.
Frequent matchups
[edit]NOTE: With the Houston Astros move to the American League at the conclusion of the 2012 season, the Braves vs. Astros series is not currently possible.
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ a b The Houston Astros moved to the American League in 2013.
References
[edit]- ^ "New MLB postseason format, explained". MLB.com.
- ^ Kepner, Tyler (2012-03-05). "For No. 1 Seeds, Road to Title Comes With Bumps". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
- ^ Nate Silver, "Selig's Dream: The Wild Card as Enabler of Pennant Races," in Steven Goldman, Ed., It Ain't Over 'til It's Over (New York: Basic Books): 170-178.
- ^ Bloom, Barry M. (March 2, 2012). "Addition of Wild Card berths finalized for 2012". MLB.com.
- ^ "MLB to expand playoffs by two teams to 10". ESPN.com. 2012-03-02. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
- ^ Rudnansky, Ryan. "MLB Playoff Format 2012: Explaining Wild Card, Divisional Series Changes & More". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
- ^ Kepner, Tyler (2012-10-05). "In Wild-Card Play-In Game, It's Win or You're Out". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
- ^ "New MLB postseason format, explained". MLB.com. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
- ^ Kepner, Tyler (2022-10-06). "Baseball's Postseason Is Evolving, for Better or Worse". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
- ^ "Everything you need to know about '22 season". MLB.com. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
- ^ 1984 NL Championship Series, Baseball-Reference.com
- ^ 1997 AL Division Series, Baseball-Reference.com
- ^ Gillette, Gary; Palmer, Pete, eds. (2006). "October Classics: Postseason Series and Playoffs". The 2006 ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia. New York: Sterling Publishing. p. 1656.
- ^ Sporting News (2012-03-02). "MLB expands playoff field to 10 teams with addition of two wild cards". Retrieved October 28, 2013.
External links
[edit]- Baseball-Reference.com - annual playoffs
- MLB.com - MLB's Division Series historical reference - box scores, highlights, etc.