MLB eyes shorter regular season, expanding Division Series to best-of-7

Major League Baseball has proposed shortening its regular season to 154 games and expanding the division series to a best-of-seven format starting in 2029. Presented during collective bargaining negotiations with the MLB Players Association, the proposal would also introduce standard Monday off days and allow higher-seeded playoff teams to choose their opponents in the wild-card and division series rounds.

MLB stated the schedule change would aid player health without reducing annual salaries, while creating new national broadcast windows. However, the MLBPA noted that the changes remain contingent on players accepting a salary cap, an economic condition the union firmly opposes.