Washington, DC; A baseball with the Major League Baseball logo sits on the grass before the Major League Baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the San Diego Padres at Nationals Park on Saturday, May 30, 2026. The Nationals beat the Padres 9-4. (Steve Prakope/Zuma Press via Image of Sport/Sipa USA)
With Major League Baseball’s lockout looming this winter, the league submitted a new proposal to the players’ union (MLBPA) that included shortened 154-game seasons and the ability for higher seeds in the Wild Card and League Divisional series to choose their opponents.
A shorter season would potentially create a longer postseason, specifically with the best-of-five LDS being expanded to a best-of-seven.
Of course, the point of contention still applies to this proposal from the league and its owners, meaning that the institution of a salary cap is connected to it.
“Returning to a 154-game schedule would allow us to introduce a weekly off day, which is good for player health, while also creating a new national broadcast window to showcase our most exciting teams and players,” MLB spokesperson Glen Caplin said. “A shorter regular season unlocks making October even better for our fans — with fewer weekday afternoon games, a longer Division Series, and more opportunities to see the game’s best pitchers on the biggest stage. And allowing the top seeds to select their opponents in the first two rounds would create compelling storylines, intensify existing rivalries, and create new ones.”
A 162-game schedule has been in place in the American League since 1961 and the National League since 1962. For the most part, MLB had a 154-game season from 1892-1961.
Of course, the MLBPA was quick to point out that the league’s proposal includes the salary cap, suggesting deliberations won’t go too far.
“The league made multiple scheduling proposals today. We are reviewing these materials, including the proposed changes to the playoff format,” a statement from the MLBPA read. “Players will weigh in on these proposals, and we will respond at the bargaining table. Unfortunately, the league once again made clear that all of its proposals are contingent on players’ agreement to a salary cap, a system that guts player rights and compensation, as well as its other anti-player proposals.”
The salary cap has long divided the league and its players. It was the main reason why there was a strike in 1994 that eliminated the end of that season — the first time there was not a World Series since 1904 — and bled into the start of the 1995 campaign.
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