Rosenthal urges MLB to reseed playoff bracket

Ken Rosenthal is calling for Major League Baseball to reseed its postseason bracket after the Wild Card round, arguing that the current American League path puts three of the league’s strongest teams on the same side. The 2026 playoffs began Tuesday under the existing format, and no league decision to make the change for 2027 has been reported. Rosenthal made the case during a Foul Territory episode on Tuesday, pointing to the Boston Red Sox-New York Yankees Wild Card series and its winner’s scheduled matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays. Under the current bracket, the Red Sox and Yankees are playing a best-of-three series, with the winner set to advance to face Tampa Bay in the Division Series. The bracket is set before the Wild Card games, rather than being rearranged afterward according to the teams that advance. Rosenthal said MLB should change that structure. His characterization of the three American League clubs as the league’s best is his assessment; the available information does not establish an independent ranking of the teams. The 2026 postseason opened with four best-of-three Wild Card series.