Fightins to Play Split-Season Format Beginning in 2019

Reading Fightin Phils season will be played under a different format in 2019, as announced by the Eastern League on Thursday. The league will now operate under a split season, with the winners of the first and second halves in each division qualifying for the playoffs.
The final day of the first half in 2019 will be Tuesday, June 18th, when the Fightins are home facing the Akron RubberDucks at 7:10 p.m. The second half will begin on Wednesday, June 19th.
Playoff spots will now be determined using won-loss record, as opposed to winning percentage. Winning percentage alone will have no impact on the standings.
The first round of the postseason will feature the first half winner from each division facing the second half winner for their respective division.
The first half division winner in 2019 will host games 3-5 of the first round series from Friday, September 6th to Sunday, September 8th. The second half division winner will be hosting games 1-2, which will take place on Wednesday, September 4th and Thursday, September 5th.
In the event the same team finishes in first place in its division in both the first and second half, the second playoff spot in that division will be awarded to the team in that division that has the best overall record.
Winners from each opening round series will advance to the Eastern League Championship Series, which will feature a 2-3 format, with the series beginning in the Western Division in even-numbered years and in the Eastern Division in odd-numbered years.