Number of Games

• Every Major League Baseball team plays the same number of games. In 1920, the MLB season was extended to 154 games. In 1962, the season was extended to 162 games. Half of them, 81, are played at home while the other half are played at another team's home stadium. Teams are divided into two leagues, the American and National League. In each league, there are three divisions: the East, Central and West. Teams will play against division-rivals more than they play teams from other divisions. When teams play away from home, they will travel to teams that are located close together. They will play a few games in one city, then move on to the next. So, for instance, if the New York Yankees play a series in Boston, they will then travel to Toronto, Baltimore and Tampa Bay. The exact order and dates of these games is determined on a yearly basis by schedulers.
  
  

Interleague Play

• Every team plays against teams in their division and rivals from the other league. So, the Chicago Cubs of the National League will play against the Chicago White Sox of the American League and teams from one of the three divisions in the American League -- East, Central and West.
  
  

Postponements, Reschedule and One-Game Playoffs

• A game may be postponed for many reasons. The most common reason is severe rain and lightning. A postponed game will be rescheduled for a later date that is workable for both teams. If two teams are tied for the lead in the same division and have the same head-to-head record at the end of the regular season, they will have a one-game playoff to determine who moves into playoffs.
  
  

Playoffs

• Four teams in each league qualify for the playoffs. The teams with the best records in the East, West and Central divisions of the American and National leagues qualify. The best team in the National League and the best team in the American league that has the best record but did not win a division also qualify for the playoffs. The first round of the playoffs, called the Division Series, pits the team with the best record against the wild card team while the other two teams in the league play each other. The first team to win three games moves on to the League Championship Series. The first team to win four games in the League Championship Series goes on to the World Series. The winner of the World Series is also the first team with four wins.