Playoff Procedures

QUALIFYING

First-half qualifiers (4)

• 1. Team finishing in first place in the Western Division ("Western First-Half Champion")
• 2. Team finishing in first place in the Eastern Division ("Eastern First-Half Champion")
• 3. Team finishing in second place in the Western Division ("Western First-Half Wild Card")
• 4. Team finishing in second place in the Eastern Division ("Eastern First-Half Wild Card")

Second-half qualifiers (4)

• 1. Team finishing in first place in the Western Division ("Western Second-Half Champion")
• 2. Team finishing in first place in the Eastern Division ("Eastern Second-Half Champion")
• 3. Team finishing in second place in the Western Division ("Western Second-Half Wild Card")
• 4. Team finishing in second place in the Eastern Division ("Eastern Second-Half Wild Card")
• **If the first-place team in the second half has already qualified as a first-half entrant (either as Champion or Wild Card), then the team finishing in second place in the second half shall qualify as the "Second-Half Champion."
• **If the second place team in the second half has already qualified (as a First-Half Champion or Wild Card or Second-Half Champion) then the team finishing in third place in the second half shall qualify as the "Second-Half Wild Card."
• **If the third place team in the second half has already qualified (as a First-Half Champion or Wild Card), then the team finishing in fourth place in the second half shall qualify as the "Second-Half Wild Card."

SEEDING

Round 1 - Quarterfinal - Best-of-3
(Team qualifying in the first half - bolded - has the option to host Game 1 or Games 2 & 3)

Series #1 - Eastern First-Half Champion vs. Eastern Second-Half Wild Card

Series #2 - Eastern First-Half Wild Card vs. Eastern Second-Half Champion

Series #3 - Western First-Half Champion vs. Western Second-Half Wild Card

Series #4 - Western First-Half Wild Card vs. Western Second-Half Champion

Round 2 - Division Championships - Best-of-3
(Team with the best overall full-season record in each series has the option to host Game 1 or Games 2 & 3)

Series #5 - (Eastern Division Championship) - Series #1 Winner vs. Series #2 Winner

Series #6 - (Western Division Championship) - Series #3 Winner vs. Series #4 Winner

Round 3 - League Championship - Best-of-5
(Western Division Champion hosts Games 1 & 2 and Eastern Division Champion hosts games 3, 4 & 5 in even-numbered years. Eastern Division Champion hosts Games 1 & 2 and Western Division Champion hosts games 3, 4 & 5 in odd-numbered years.)

Series #7 - Series #5 Winner (Western Division Champion) vs. Series #6 Winner (Eastern Division Champion)

TIEBREAKERS

Tie involving two teams: 1) Best record in head-to-head meetings; 2) best run differential in head-to-head meetings; 3) winner of final meeting of the season between the clubs.
Tie involving more than two teams: 1) Best winning percentage in games involving tied teams for the full season; 2) best run differential in games involving tied teams for the full season; 3) best winning percentage in second-half games involving tied teams; 4) best run differential in second-half games only in games involving tied teams.

CLINCH PLAYOFF SPOT

Before announcing you have clinched a playoff spot, please check with the Midwest League office to review the numbers and all possible scenarios.