Major League Baseball plans to add another wild card team to the playoff format this season, making the two wild card teams in each league play a one-game playoff. Both MLB and the Players Association have been hammering out the details, trying to work out a proper schedule given that the 2012 season ends on a Wednesday and the playoff format was already set. To alleviate schedule concerns, the first round might revert to a 2-3 format with the team with home field advantage opening the series with two road games before coming home for three, per Amy K. Nelson of SB Nation:
↵↵↵Both the players' union and MLB are still finalizing discussions, but a source told SB Nation that the 2-3 format has already been agreed upon if there is no way to keep the 2-2-1 format. The change will only be in place for the 2012 postseason, because a National League team is expected to move to the A.L. next season, which will equalize both leagues with 15 teams.
↵
MLB had a 2-3 format in the five-game league championship series from 1969-1984, though home field advantage alternated divisions each year rather than based on record. The division series also had a 2-3 format from 1995-1997 until switching to the new 2-2-1 format.