MLB Commissioner Stands Firm on Playoff Format Amid Backlash

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred defends the current playoff format despite criticism that it is unfair to the league's best teams. All three 100-win regular-season teams were eliminated in the Division Series, with only one win combined. The format, which includes a five-day layoff for higher-seeded teams, will be reevaluated in the offseason, but Manfred believes it is too early to make changes. The Houston Astros, who had five days off before their series, have been successful under the new format. The Braves, Dodgers, and Orioles, who had the longest layoffs, had poor performances in hitting and pitching, but it is unclear if the break was the cause.