The Washington Nationals won the National League East Division with an outstanding record of 95-67 (95 wins and 67 losses). The Nats begin play Friday in the Major League Baseball (MLB) playoffs.
Playoff baseball is different from regular-season baseball. How is it different? Let’s take a look.
Format: MLB teams play 162 games during the regular season. The teams are constantly moving from city to city, never playing the same team more than three or four games in a row.
The playoffs are different. The Nationals will play the Los Angeles Dodgers in a best-of-five-game matchup in a National League Division Series. If the Nats beat the Dodgers, they move on to the National League Championship Series and maybe the World Series. Both of those are best-of-seven-game contests.
These short five- or seven-game series mean that a team can’t afford to have a few bad games. A three-game losing streak could be the end of the season.
The Nats will face the Los Angeles Dodgers and their own ace, Clayton Kershaw. In the playoffs, one stellar pitcher can do a lot more damage than in the regular season. (Neville E. Guard/USA Today Sports) Don’t think it can happen? Even though the Nats had the second-best record in baseball, there were six times when Washington lost at least three games in a row, including a seven-game losing streak. A team can’t go cold in the playoffs, or they will be left out in the cold.
Schedule: During the regular season, MLB teams play almost every day. Players get only about three days off each month. (Aren’t you glad schools don’t have that schedule!) Playing every day means teams must have at least five starting pitchers and plenty of relief pitchers to throw all those nine-inning games.
In the playoffs, however, there are more days off. Players and especially pitchers have time to rest. Teams may use only three or four starting pitchers and their best and most dependable relievers out of the bullpen.
So one or two outstanding pitchers may be able to get a team through a playoff series. Washington fans are hoping their ace hurler, Max Scherzer, can lead them deep into the playoffs and maybe to the World Series. Of course, Dodgers fans are hoping their ace — the amazing Clayton Kershaw — can do the same.
Competition: All the teams in the MLB playoffs are good. Most of the playoff teams won 90 or more games this season. There are no more games against weak teams such as the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks.
That’s a big difference. For example, the Nats had only a 22-25 record against teams that they may face in the playoffs. So every game, every series should be tough and hard-fought.
But that also means the playoffs are super exciting. Every pitch, every play, every swing of the bat is important.
It’s time to play ball. Playoff baseball.
Bowen writes the sports opinion column for KidsPost. He is the author of 21 kids sports books, including nine about baseball.
