JUMP TO:
- What is the MLB Wild Card?
- MLB Wild Card round format
- MLB Wild Card history
- How have Wild Card teams performed in the MLB playoffs?
- Memorable Wild Card moments
- MLB Wild Card schedule 2025
The MLB postseason looks a lot different now than it did in 1994. Back then, only four teams qualified. Now, a total of 12 squads carry World Series dreams into the playoffs.
One wild-card team per league was introduced to the league in 1994, giving non-division winners a shot in the postseason for the first time. Since then though, there have been two waves of postseason expansion, adding an additional two wild-card spots per league. When October comes around now, there are six wild-card teams in total to go along with six division winners.
However, there are other rules within MLB's Wild Card round that have developed over the years, including how the bracket shapes up. Especially in recent years, wild-card teams have found a notable amount of deep postseason success.
Here's a breakdown of MLB's Wild Card round, explaining how the format works and diving into the history of wild-card teams.
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What is the MLB Wild Card?
MLB wild-card teams are the non-division winners in each league that still qualify for the postseason based on their top records among non-division winners. The three teams with the best winning percentage in the league (outside of division victors) qualify for the postseason via the wild card.
Wild card teams were introduced to MLB in 1994. Prior to then, there were only four postseason squads, with two division winners in each league; those two teams met in a league championship series, with the opportunity to advance to the World Series.
Originally, the wild-card was just one added postseason team per league, with three division winners. However, expansions in 2012, then 2022 have now resulted in 12 total teams making the postseason, with three division-winners and three wild-cards per league.
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MLB Wild Card round format
The current Wild Card Round format was introduced in 2022. Here's what to know about the format.
How do teams qualify for MLB Wild Card?
A total of six teams qualify for the postseason as a wild card, with three per league. Within each league, the division winner with the lowest winning percentage also participates in the wild-card round, with the other two division winners getting a bye.
How many Wild Card teams are there per league?
Since 2022, there have been three Wild Card teams per league. When the extra postseason spots were first introduced in 1994, it was just one wild card team per league, then it expanded in 2012, then 2022.
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Is the MLB Wild Card best of 3 games?
Yes, the current MLB Wild Card Round format is a best-of-three series.
The winner of the 4 vs. 5 seed matchup goes onto face the top-seeded division winner in the League Division Series, while the winner of the 3 vs. 6 seed advances to face the second seed in the league. There is no reseeding in-between rounds.
How is homefield advantage determined?
The higher seed hosts all three Wild Card games.
So, that means the lowest-seeded division winner (No. 3 seed) hosts the lowest-seeded Wild Card squad (No. 6 seed), and top-seeded Wild Card team (No. 4 seed) hosts the holder of the WC2 spot (No. 5 seed).
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MLB Wild Card history
Here's what to know about the history of MLB's Wild Card teams.
When was the Wild Card first introduced?
Wild card teams have been around in MLB since 1994. As the league was expanding, it needed the new system to account for there being three divisions per league instead of two; the first Wild Card format including just one non-division winner, meaning four teams in each league made the postseason. There was no "Wild Card Round," with the postseason beginning in the divisional round.
The format for Wild Card teams has changed over time, however.
MLB Wild Card changes
After the initial Wild Card format included just one non-division winner per league to make the postseason, things changed again in 2012. Not only were two Wild Card teams per league eligible for the postseason, but that changed the format of how the bracket worked.
From 2012-19, and in 2021, the two Wild Card teams in each league faced each other in a one-game playoff. The winner of that one game advanced to the divisional round to face the top seed in the league. This format was not used in the 2020 postseason due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The two-Wild Card teams format, and one-game playoff series, resulted in some high-drama matchups right from the start of the postseason. Rather than plan for a three-or-five game series, teams were forced to put their all into one matchup, often rolling out their best pitchers in hopes of advancing to the divisional round.
However, MLB expanded the postseason again in 2022, the format that holds today. With the addition of a third Wild Card spot, it meant that the top two seeds in each league got extra time off before they began their postseason run, while the league also had its largest postseason field ever at 12 teams.
Naturally, the expansion has led to more teams still contending for the postseason deeper into there regular season.
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How have Wild Card teams performed in the MLB playoffs?
MLB Wild Card teams to win the World Series
A total of eight teams have won the World Series after entering the postseason as a Wild Card. The first to do it was the Florida Marlins, who won it all in 1997, then again in 2003, as a non-division winner.
OTD: The Florida Marlins get their first World Series ring in franchise history.
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) October 26, 2023
🗓️: October 26, 1997 pic.twitter.com/7pS8YGWIza
OTD: The Florida Marlins win it all.
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) October 25, 2023
🗓️: October 25, 2003 pic.twitter.com/gOcpHbX598
The Marlins are also the only team to win the World Series without ever winning a division title, winning the Fall Classic twice.
The other teams to win the World Series as a Wild Card are the 2002 Anaheim Angels, the 2004 Boston Red Sox, the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals, the 2014 San Francisco Giants, the 2019 Washington Nationals and the 2023 Texas Rangers.
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World Series with two Wild Card teams
On three instances, the World Series has brought a matchup of two teams who didn't even win their division: 2002, 2014 and 2023.
The 2002 World Series was between the Angels and the Giants, the 2014 Fall Classic saw the Giants and Royals face off, and the 2023 edition was between the Rangers and Diamondbacks.
Most Wild Card appearances
The Red Sox and Yankees are tied for the most Wild Card berths, each making the postseason as a non-division winner seven times.
Has any team not been a Wild Card?
Every MLB team has secured a Wild Card berth at least once since the format was introduced in 1994. The final team to secure their first Wild Card position in franchise history was the Philadelphia Phillies, who did so in 2022.
That year, the Phillies made a run to the World Series, but fell to the Houston Astros. Philadelphia was also the first-ever No. 6 seed to reach the World Series in 2022.
2022 NLWC Game 1, 9th inning.
— John Foley (@2008Philz) November 21, 2022
Phillies are losing 2-0 to the Cardinals and it’s looking like a very short playoff run for the Fightins. pic.twitter.com/WLHBHYMrzr
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October 23, 2022. Ranger Suarez closes out NLCS Game 5 to send the Phillies to the World Series! pic.twitter.com/pbg1oMLF2t
— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) October 23, 2024
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Memorable Wild Card moments
Here are some of the best Wild Card moments in MLB history, from some of the historically significant runs, to high-drama matchups.
The 'Infield Fly Game', 2012
The first-ever Wild Card Game, which came under the new format in 2012, was between the Cardinals and Atlanta Braves.
There was a ton of controversy resulting from the Braves threatening to score in the eighth inning. Down by three with their season on the line, Atlanta had two runners on. When Cardinals shortstop Pete Kozma went backward, and outfielder Matt Holliday forward, on a fly ball that wound up dropping in-between them, umpire Sam Holbrook called the infield-fly rule.
good morning, everyone. The Cardinals play the Braves in Atlanta today.
— Cardinals Talk (@theredbird_way) July 19, 2024
The 2012 Wild Card game infield fly rule was one of the craziest postseason things I’ve ever seen😂🤯 pic.twitter.com/YhItQ4VLga
That meant the batter, Andrelton Simmons, was out, and the Braves failed to rally afterward. The questionable call resulted in some anger for Braves fans.
"It didn't register in anybody's mind that could be called," Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman said, per MLB.com. "We had seen [Holliday] had run in. It wasn't even an option in our heads. For him to call that was baffling. I don't think anybody can ever accept that. That wasn't the right call."
Pirates crowd gets to Johnny Cueto, 2013
In 2013, the Pittsburgh Pirates got a rare opportunity to host a postseason game. In a matchup against the Cincinnati Reds, their fans got rowdy enough to rattle opposing starter Johnny Cueto.
Pittsburgh took the lead on a Marlon Byrd homer, then Pirates fans shouted "Cueeee-to! Cueeee-to!" loud enough to cause the pitcher to drop the ball. Then, he allowed a home run to Russell Martin as the squad rolled to a 6-2 win.
The Pirates haven't made the postseason often since 2013, but it was one of their best wins in franchise history.
October 1, 2013: “CUE-TO, CUE-TO.” During the NL Wild Card Game, Johnny Cueto is shook from the PNC Park crowd, drops the ball, then Russell Martin hits the Pirates’ 2nd home run of the second inning.
— This Day In Sports Clips (@TDISportsClips) October 2, 2024
Pirates beat the Reds 6-2.
pic.twitter.com/QlIvpExDGh
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Royals spark run with rally vs. A's, 2014
With just six outs remaining in the 2014 AL Wild Card Game, the Royals fought back against the A's to begin their run to the World Series. Alcides Escobar scored off a hit from Lorenzo Cain, who then scored on a single from Billy Butler.
Then, Eric Hosmer scored on a wild pitch, and Kansas City came back against Jon Lester and Oakland to eventually claim a 9-8 win on a walk-off single.
2014 Kansas City Royals: EPIC WILD CARD COMEBACK pic.twitter.com/bM7JrQyHxj
— Brad Henson Productions (@BradHensonPro) September 28, 2024
Rockies, Cubs go for 13-inning Wild Card matchup, 2018
In 2018, the Colorado Rockies and Chicago Cubs wound up playing the longest winner-take-all postseason game in history at the time. Each squad had a drama-filled week leading to the postseason, but it was Colorado who prevailed in a marathon.
Javier Baez tied the game at one run in the eighth inning for Chicago, but a single from Tony Walters in the 13th inning was the difference for the Rockies.
2018 NL Wild Card Game.
— Patrick Lyons (@PatrickDLyons) October 2, 2024
Rockies defeat Cubs, 2-1, at Wrigley Field in 13 innings on this date six years ago. pic.twitter.com/GEpw46xyue
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Guardians win 15-inning marathon vs. Rays, 2022
In the first year of the three-wild-card-team era, Cleveland and Tampa Bay each didn't want to score in the Wild Card Round. In Game 2 of the series, it remained scoreless through 14 innings.
The teams combined for a postseason record 39 strikeouts, struggling for just 11 hits along the way. But the Guardians' Oscar Gonzalez finally brought the game to a close with a walk-off home run.
Pete Alonso send Mets to NLDS, 2024
With the Wild Card Round being a best-of-three series by then, the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers were pushed to a winner-take-all Game 3. The two squads went scoreless through six innings, but Milwaukee appeared to have the upper-hand after two homers in the seventh.
However, facing Brewers closer Devin Williams, the Mets came back in the ninth inning. With two runners on, slugger Pete Alonso sent a shot over the fences that put New York on top, and the Mets advanced to the NLDS.
Alonso became the first player in MLB history to hit a go-ahead home run while trailing in the ninth inning or later of a winner-take-all postseason game.
Pete Alonso • 10/03/2024
— MLB Dingers (@dailymlbdingers) August 11, 2025
🍁 Postseason 🍁 pic.twitter.com/RbMrozTdhQ
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MLB Wild Card schedule 2025
Here's a look at MLB's 2025 schedule for the Wild Card Round.
Tuesday, Sept. 30
| Matchup | Game | Time |
| NL No. 5 seed at NL No. 4 seed | 1 | TBD |
| NL No. 6 seed at NL No. 3 seed | 1 | TBD |
| AL No. 5 seed at AL No. 4 seed | 1 | TBD |
| AL No. 6 seed at AL No. 3 seed | 1 | TBD |
Wednesday, Oct. 1
| Matchup | Game | Time |
| NL No. 5 seed at NL No. 4 seed | 2 | TBD |
| NL No. 6 seed at NL No. 3 seed | 2 | TBD |
| AL No. 5 seed at AL No. 4 seed | 2 | TBD |
| AL No. 6 seed at AL No. 3 seed | 2 | TBD |
Thursday, Oct. 2
| Matchup | Game | Time |
| NL No. 5 seed at NL No. 4 seed | 3* | TBD |
| NL No. 6 seed at NL No. 3 seed | 3* | TBD |
| AL No. 5 seed at AL No. 4 seed | 3* | TBD |
| AL No. 6 seed at AL No. 3 seed | 3* | TBD |
*If necessary
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