List of Major League Baseball tie-breakers explained

See also: Major League Baseball tie-breaking procedures. A tie-breaker was required in Major League Baseball (MLB) when two or more teams were tied at the end of the regular season for a postseason position such as a league pennant (prior to the introduction of the League Championship Series in 1969), a division title, or a wild card spot. Until 2022, both the American League (AL) and the National League (NL) used a one-game playoff format for, although the NL used a best-of-three series prior to 1969, when the leagues were split into divisions. As these tie-breaker games counted as part of the regular season and MLB teams (American League beginning in 1961, and National League beginning in 1962) have 162-game regular season schedules, the tie-breaker games were sometimes referred to as "Game 163".[1] In 2022, as part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement to end the 2021–22 Major League Baseball lockout, tiebreaker games were replaced with statistical tiebreaker procedures.[2] [3] [4]

Sixteen – 12 single-game and four series – have been played in MLB history. In baseball statistics, games counted as regular season games with all events in them counted towards regular season statistics. This had implications on statistical races, such as when Matt Holliday won the batting average and runs batted in titles thanks in part to his performance in the 2007 .[5] Home-field advantage for was determined by a coin flip through the 2008 season, after which performance-based criteria, starting with head-to-head record of the tied teams, were put in place.[6]

Although there have been no situations requiring a between more than two teams, it was possible. In 2007, for example, the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies, and Arizona Diamondbacks finished the season within two games of one another.[7] The possibility existed for as many as four teams to be locked in a series of that year to decide the NL East, West, and Wild Card.[8] Similarly, late in the 2012 season the possibility existed for the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, and either the Texas Rangers or Oakland Athletics to all finish with the same record. This could have required the teams to play a complex set of multiple games to determine divisional and wild card winners, a situation which Jayson Stark described as potentially "baseball's worst scheduling nightmare."[9]

History

The first, held in 1946, decided the winner of the NL pennant between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Brooklyn Dodgers, who had finished the season tied at 96–58.[10] The Cardinals won the series in two games and went on to win the 1946 World Series,[11] one of four winners who have gone on to win the World Series. Three games have gone into extra innings: the decisive second game of the 1959 series, the 2007 Wild Card, and the 2009 game.[12] [13] [14] The 2008, a 1–0 victory for the White Sox, was the lowest scoring game, while the 2007 match-up with 17 total runs was the highest scoring. The Dodgers franchise has participated in six, twice while the team was based in Brooklyn and four times in Los Angeles, the most for any team. Dodger Stadium, Ebbets Field, Fenway Park, the Polo Grounds and Wrigley Field are the only venues which have hosted multiple games. Both games at the Polo Grounds came in the 1951 series.

One of the most famous moments in MLB history came in the final game of the 1951 National League series. Entering the bottom of the ninth inning the New York Giants were trailing the Dodgers 4–1. Al Dark and Don Mueller each singled to put runners on first and third base.[15] Whitey Lockman hit a double, scoring Dark to make the game 4–2. Finally, Bobby Thomson hit a walk-off home run which has come to be known as the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" to give the Giants the 5–4 victory and the National League pennant. ESPN's SportsCentury ranked it as the second greatest game of the 20th century.[16] In 1962, the first season of the NL expanded schedule to 162 games, the only best-of-three tie breaker in the 162 game season took place between the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers with the Giants winning 2–1. This was the longest regular season schedule ever played by 2 teams at 165 games, a record that will almost certainly never be matched. The 2000s saw three years of consecutive one-run tiebreaker games. The Rockies stormed back from a 2-run deficit in the 13th in 2007, winning 9–8 in a surprising run to the World Series that year. In 2008, a Jim Thome home run and a stellar performance by John Danks helped the White Sox edge out the Twins 1–0. The Twins ended up on the winning side the following year, tying the game in the 10th after going down a run and then walking off in the 12th inning to defeat the Tigers 6–5.

In 2018, two tiebreakers were played to conclude the season for the first time in MLB history. The NL West was decided between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies, while the NL Central was decided between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs. The Dodgers and Brewers, the winners of these games, advanced to the NLDS, while the losers played each other in the Wild Card game.[17]

Despite one team playing on their home field, tie-breakers have not favored the home team statistically, with the home team having gone 11–11 since the first tie-breaker game was played.

Starting with the 2022 season, as part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement to end the 2021–22 Major League Baseball lockout, MLB added a third wild card team in each league, expanding the playoffs to 12 teams, and abolishing the tiebreaker game format. Ties will only be broken with a set of statistical procedures.

Key

Key to the tie-breakers
TitleThe pennant, division, or wild card which the tie-breaker decided. Links to the tie-breaker game or series.
Winning/Losing teamThe winning and losing team for the tie-breaker (for the overall series in the case of a best-of-three series)
Score(s)Score of the game, extra innings noted in parentheses
Postseason result (winner)Fate of team winning the tie-breaker in the subsequent postseason
Postseason result (loser)Fate of team losing the tie-breaker in the subsequent postseason (if qualified)
Team subsequently won the World Series
Team subsequently lost the World Series
^Tie-breaker was contested in a best-of-three series rather than a one-game playoff
Head-to-headHead-to-head win/loss record and winning percentage of the winning vs. losing team during the regular season prior to the tie-breaker itself

Tie-breakers

Tie-breaker games and series
TitleWinning teamScore(s)Losing teamSite(s)Postseason result Head-to-headRef.
WinnerLoser
1946 NL pennantSt. Louis Cardinals4–2, 8–4^Brooklyn DodgersSportsman's Park (Game 1)
Ebbets Field (Game 2)		Won WS 4–3 (Red Sox)*Did not qualify[18] [19]
1948 AL pennantCleveland Indians8–3Boston Red SoxFenway ParkWon WS 4–2 (Braves)*Did not qualify[20]
1951 NL pennantNew York Giants3–1, 0–10, 5–4^Brooklyn DodgersEbbets Field (Game 1)
Polo Grounds (Games 2, 3)		Lost WS 4–2 (Yankees)#Did not qualify[21] [22]
1959 NL pennantLos Angeles Dodgers3–2, 6–5 (12)^Milwaukee BravesCounty Stadium (Game 1)
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Game 2)		Won WS 4–2 (White Sox)*Did not qualify[23]
1962 NL pennantSan Francisco Giants8–0, 7–8, 6–4^Los Angeles DodgersCandlestick Park (Game 1)
Dodger Stadium (Games 2, 3)		Lost WS 4–3 (Yankees)#Did not qualify[24] [25] [26]
1978 AL EastNew York Yankees5–4Boston Red SoxFenway ParkWon ALCS 3–1 (Royals),
Won WS 4–2 (Dodgers)*		Did not qualify[27]
1980 NL WestHouston Astros7–1Los Angeles DodgersDodger StadiumLost NLCS 3–2 (Phillies)Did not qualify[28]
1995 AL WestSeattle Mariners9–1California AngelsKingdomeWon ALDS 3–2 (Yankees),
Lost ALCS 4–2 (Indians)		Did not qualify[29]
1998 NL Wild CardChicago Cubs5–3San Francisco GiantsWrigley FieldLost NLDS 3–0 (Braves)Did not qualify[30]
1999 NL Wild CardNew York Mets5–0Cincinnati RedsCinergy FieldWon NLDS 3–1 (Diamondbacks),
Lost NLCS 4–2 (Braves)		Did not qualify[31]
2007 NL Wild CardColorado Rockies9–8 (13)San Diego PadresCoors FieldWon NLDS 3–0 (Phillies),
Won NLCS 4–0 (Diamondbacks),
Lost WS 4–0 (Red Sox)#		Did not qualify
2008 AL CentralChicago White Sox1–0Minnesota TwinsU.S. Cellular FieldLost ALDS 3–1 (Rays)Did not qualify[32]
2009 AL CentralMinnesota Twins6–5 (12)Detroit TigersHubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeLost ALDS 3–0 (Yankees)Did not qualify[33]
2013 AL Wild CardTampa Bay Rays5–2Texas RangersRangers Ballpark in ArlingtonWon ALWC (Indians),
Lost ALDS 3–1 (Red Sox)		Did not qualify[34]
2018 NL CentralMilwaukee Brewers3–1Chicago CubsWrigley FieldWon NLDS 3–0 (Rockies),
Lost NLCS 4–3 (Dodgers)		Lost NLWC (Rockies)[35]
2018 NL WestLos Angeles Dodgers5–2Colorado RockiesDodger StadiumWon NLDS 3–1 (Braves),
Won NLCS 4–3 (Brewers),
Lost WS 4–1 (Red Sox)#		Won NLWC (Cubs),
Lost NLDS 3-0 (Brewers)		[36]

Win–loss records by team

This only lists teams who participated in at least one tiebreaker game, and lists them under their current identities.

TeamWin–loss recordAppearances
Atlanta Braves0–1 1
Boston Red Sox0–2 2
Chicago Cubs1–1 2
Chicago White Sox1–0 1
Cincinnati Reds0–1 1
Cleveland Guardians1–0 1
Colorado Rockies1–1 2
Detroit Tigers0–1 1
Houston Astros1–0 1
Los Angeles Angels0–1 1
Los Angeles Dodgers2–4 6
Milwaukee Brewers1–0 1
Minnesota Twins1–1 2
New York Mets1–0 1
New York Yankees1–0 1
San Diego Padres0–1 1
San Francisco Giants2–1 3
Seattle Mariners1–0 1
St. Louis Cardinals1–0 1
Tampa Bay Rays1–0 1
Texas Rangers0–1 1
In cases where a series was played, win–loss total reflects outcome of the series, not individual games.

Team choices on tiebreaker designations

A tiebreaker involving three teams or more would have involved a more complex series of match-ups to determine what team(s) earned what playoff berth(s). This scenario never actually occurred but, on a few occasions, it was close enough that the teams involved selected tiebreaker designation in anticipation of such a scenario.[37]

Three-way tie for one wild card spot

While such a tie had never occurred, teams within range were requested to choose between designations A, B, and C in case. Team A hosted Team B. The winner would then host Team C, with the winner of that game getting the wild card spot.

Year Teams involved 1st Team's choice 2nd Team's choice 3rd Team's designation
2021[38] [39] Red Sox chose C Mariners chose A Blue Jays given B
Blue Jays chose C Yankees chose A Mariners given B

Three-way tie for two wild card spots

While such a tie had never occurred, teams within range were requested to choose between designations A, B, and C in case. Team A hosted Team B, with the winner awarded one spot. Team C would host the loser of the first game, with the winner getting the other spot.

Year Teams involved 1st Team's choice 2nd Team's choice 3rd Team's designation
2013[40] Indians chose A Rays chose B Rangers given C
2016[41] Blue Jays chose A Orioles chose C Tigers given B
2021Red Sox chose A Blue Jays chose B Yankees given C
Red Sox chose A Yankees chose B Mariners given C

Four-way tie for two wild card spots

While such a tie had never occurred, teams within range were requested to choose between designations A, B, C, and D in case. Team A hosted Team B. Team C hosted Team D. The winners of each game would've been awarded a wild-card spot.

References

General

Specific

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lacques . Gabe . Game 163! Historic day on tap as Dodgers-Rockies, Cubs-Brewers set for NL tiebreakers Monday . 2023-02-13 . USA TODAY . en-US . 2020-12-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201222111647/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2018/09/30/mlb-playoffs-tiebreakers-dodgers-rockies-cubs-brewers/1481842002/ . live .
  2. Web site: MLB lockout: 10 important under-the-radar changes in CBA, including new schedule format and loss of Game 163 . 2022-04-29 . CBSSports.com . en.
  3. Web site: Lacques . Gabe . RIP Game 163: MLB's new postseason system ends storied one-game tiebreaker. A 'bummer' for baseball? . 2023-02-13 . USA TODAY . en-US . 2023-02-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230213213643/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2022/08/18/mlb-playoffs-tiebreaker-one-game-163-standings/10351609002/ . live .
  4. Web site: 2022 MLB playoffs: New postseason format explained, and why there are no more Game 163 tiebreakers . 2023-02-13 . CBSSports.com . en . 2023-01-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230123213350/https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/2022-mlb-playoffs-new-postseason-format-explained-and-why-there-are-no-more-game-163-tiebreakers/ . live .
  5. Web site: Holliday comes through big to take first batting title. October 2, 2007. April 12, 2010. ESPN.com. July 22, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150722082533/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3045736. live.
  6. Web site: Ownership approves two major rules amendments. 2021-04-09. MLB.com. 2016-03-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20160312090411/http://mlb.mlb.com/content/printer_friendly/mlb/y2009/m01/d15/c3745318.jsp. live.
  7. Web site: Standings on Sunday, September 30, 2007. Baseball-Reference.com. May 8, 2010.
  8. Web site: NL could be in playoff tiebreakers until Thursday . May 8, 2010 . . September 28, 2007 . Jayson . Stark . September 5, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150905212803/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3038686 . live .
  9. Web site: October scheduling nightmares: Part 896 . September 25, 2012 . . September 25, 2012 . Jayson . Stark . November 15, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131115000148/http://espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/stark_jayson/id/8423777/american-league-playoff-tiebreakers-nightmare-scenarios-mlb . live .
  10. Web site: Standings on Sunday, September 29, 1946. Baseball-Reference.com. May 8, 2010. October 5, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151005062327/http://www.baseball-reference.com/games/standings.cgi?date=1946-09-29. live.
  11. Web site: 1946 World Series. Baseball-Reference.com. May 8, 2010. April 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210422190758/http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1946_WS.shtml. live.
  12. Web site: September 29, 1959 Milwaukee Braves at Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score and Play by Play. Baseball-Reference.com. May 8, 2010. January 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210123202743/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN195909290.shtml. live.
  13. Web site: October 1, 2007 San Diego Padres at Colorado Rockies Box Score and Play by Play. Baseball-Reference.com. May 8, 2010. December 31, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201231095051/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/COL/COL200710010.shtml. live.
  14. Web site: October 6, 2009 Detroit Tigers at Minnesota Twins Box Score and Play by Play. Baseball-Reference.com. May 8, 2010. November 30, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201130052040/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIN/MIN200910060.shtml. live.
  15. Web site: Game of Wednesday, 10/3/1951 – Brooklyn at New York (D). May 6, 2010. Retrosheet, Inc. May 13, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100513031010/http://retrosheet.org/NY119511003. dead.
  16. Book: 1951 National League Playoff. ESPN SportsCentury. Michael. MacCambridge. New York. Hyperion ESPN Books. 171.
  17. Web site: Game 163! Historic Day on Tap as Dodgers-Rockies, Cubs-Brewers Set for NL Tiebreakers Monday. Lacques. Gabe. USA Today. September 30, 2018. December 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201222111647/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2018/09/30/mlb-playoffs-tiebreakers-dodgers-rockies-cubs-brewers/1481842002/. live.
  18. Web site: Game of Tuesday, 10/1/1946 – Brooklyn at St. Louis (D) . May 6, 2010 . Retrosheet, Inc . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100514135917/http://retrosheet.org/SLN19461001 . May 14, 2010 .
  19. Web site: Game of Thursday, 10/3/1946 – St. Louis at Brooklyn (D). May 6, 2010. Retrosheet, Inc. June 10, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170610003805/http://retrosheet.org/BRO19461003. dead.
  20. Web site: Game of Monday, 10/4/1948 – Cleveland at Boston (D). May 6, 2010. Retrosheet, Inc. February 15, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110215104441/http://retrosheet.org/BOS19481004. dead.
  21. Web site: Game of Monday, 10/1/1951 – New York at Brooklyn (D). May 6, 2010. Retrosheet, Inc. June 10, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170610003721/http://retrosheet.org/BRO19511001. dead.
  22. Web site: Game of Tuesday, 10/2/1951 – Brooklyn at New York (D). May 6, 2010. Retrosheet, Inc. October 9, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20091009003829/http://retrosheet.org/NY119511002. dead.
  23. Web site: September 28, 1959 Los Angeles Dodgers at Milwaukee Braves Box Score and Play by Play. Baseball-Reference.com. May 8, 2010. November 16, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201116172333/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MLN/MLN195909280.shtml. live.
  24. Web site: Monday, October 1, 1962 Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants Play by Play and Box Score. Baseball-Reference.com. May 8, 2010. November 16, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201116182713/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN196210010.shtml. live.
  25. Web site: Tuesday, October 2, 1962 San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers Play by Play and Box Score. Baseball-Reference.com. May 8, 2010. January 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210115211339/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN196210020.shtml. live.
  26. Web site: Wednesday, October 3, 1962, 1962 San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers Play by Play and Box Score. Baseball-Reference.com. May 8, 2010. September 1, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100901070526/http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN196210030.shtml. live.
  27. Web site: Monday, October 2, 1978 New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox Box Score and Play by Play. Baseball-Reference.com. May 8, 2010. April 12, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090412052415/http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS197810020.shtml. live.
  28. Web site: Monday, October 6, 1980 Houston Astros at Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score and Play by Play. Baseball-Reference.com. May 8, 2010. August 4, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100804051805/http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN198010060.shtml. live.
  29. Web site: Monday, October 2, 1995 California Angels at Seattle Mariners Box Score and Play by Play. Baseball-Reference.com. May 8, 2010. December 25, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201225080826/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SEA/SEA199510020.shtml. live.
  30. Web site: Monday, September 28, 1998 San Francisco Giants at Chicago Cubs Box Score and Play by Play. Baseball-Reference.com. May 8, 2010. August 19, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200819103613/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN199809280.shtml. live.
  31. Web site: October 4, 1999 New York Mets at Cincinnati Reds Box Score and Play by Play. Baseball-Reference.com. May 6, 2010. February 25, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210225054802/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN199910040.shtml. live.
  32. Web site: September 30, 2008 Minnesota Twins at Chicago White Sox Box Score and Play by Play. Baseball-Reference.com. May 2, 2010. October 1, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201001102139/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA200809300.shtml. live.
  33. Web site: Never-give-up Twins win AL Central title. October 6, 2009. MLB.com. Major League Baseball. May 8, 2010. February 17, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100217140327/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091006&content_id=7367504&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb. live.
  34. Web site: September 30, 2013 Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers Box Score. Major League Baseball. September 30, 2013. March 3, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230130/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_09_30_tbamlb_texmlb_1&mode=box. live.
  35. Web site: Yelich, Brewers Beat Cubs 3–1 for NL Central Title. ESPN. October 1, 2018. Associated Press. October 1, 2018. November 12, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201112010124/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=381001116. live.
  36. Web site: Buehler, Dodgers Top Rockies 5-2; 6th Straight NL West Title. ESPN. October 1, 2018. Associated Press. October 1, 2018. October 9, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181009182404/http://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=381001119. live.
  37. Web site: Playoff tiebreaker rules . September 26, 2019 . . September 2, 2014 . October 22, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171022082959/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/59527184/playoff-tiebreaker-rules/ . live .
  38. Web site: Explaining AL Wild Card tiebreaker scenarios. 2021-10-16. MLB.com. en. 2022-01-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20220115112913/https://www.mlb.com/news/american-league-wild-card-tiebreakers-explained. live.
  39. Web site: Potential AL tiebreaker matchups, locations . October 3, 2021 . MLB . October 3, 2021 . October 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211003162201/https://www.mlb.com/news/american-league-tiebreaker-matchups-locations-for-2021 . live .
  40. Web site: MLB announces tiebreaker sequence for AL wild-card, if necessary. September 26, 2019. CBS Sports. Mike. Axisa. September 27, 2013. September 27, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190927010437/https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-announces-tiebreaker-sequence-for-al-wild-card-if-necessary/. live.
  41. Web site: Blue Jays, Orioles, Tigers pick tiebreaker options for AL wild-card berth. September 26, 2019. USA Today. Bob. Nightengale. October 1, 2016. November 8, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201108101928/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2016/10/01/three-way-wild-card-tiebreaker-scenario-blue-jays-tigers-orioles/91414008/. live.

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