National League Division Series

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In Major League Baseball, the National League Division Series (NLDS) determines which two teams from the National League will advance to the National League Championship Series. The Division Series consists of two best-of-five series, featuring each of the two division winners with the best records and the winners of the wild-card playoffs.

History

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The Division Series was implemented in 1981 as a one-off tournament because of a midseason strike, with the first-place teams before the strike taking on the teams in first-place after the strike. In 1981, a split-season format forced the first ever divisional playoff series, in which the Montreal Expos won the Eastern Division series over the Philadelphia Phillies in five games, while in the Western Division, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Houston Astros, also in five games (the Astros were members of the National League until 2012).

In 1994, it was returned permanently when Major League Baseball (MLB) restructured each league into three divisions, but with a different format than in 1981. Each of the division winners, along with one wild card team, qualifies for the Division Series. Despite being planned for the 1994 season, the postseason was cancelled that year due to the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike. In 1995, the first season to feature a division series, the Eastern Division champion Atlanta Braves defeated the wild card Colorado Rockies three games to one, while the Central Division champion Cincinnati Reds defeated the Western Division champion Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-game sweep.

From 1994 to 2011, the wild card was given to the team in the National League with the best overall record that was not a division champion. Beginning with the 2012 season, a second wild card team was added, and the two wild card teams play a single-game playoff to determine which team would play in the NLDS. For the 2020 Major League Baseball season only, there was an expanded playoff format, owing to an abbreviated 60-game regular season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eight teams qualified from the National League: the top two teams in each division plus the next two best records among the remaining teams. These eight teams played a best-of-three-game series to determine placement in the NLDS. The regular format returned for the 2021 season.

As of 2021, the Atlanta Braves have played in the most NL division series with seventeen appearances. The St. Louis Cardinals have currently won the most NL division series, winning eleven of the fourteen series in which they have played. The Pittsburgh Pirates (who finished with a losing record from 1993 to 2012) were the last team to make their first appearance in the NL division series, making their debut in 2013 after winning the 2013 National League Wild Card Game. In 2008, the Milwaukee Brewers became the first team to play in a division series in both leagues when they won the National League wild card, their first postseason berth since winning the American League East Division title in 1982 before switching leagues in 1998. Milwaukee had competed in an American League Division Series in the strike-shortened 1981 season.

Format

The NLDS is a best-of-five series where the divisional winner with the best winning percentage in the regular season hosts the winner of the Wild Card Series between the top two wild card teams in one matchup, and the divisional winner with the second-best winning percentage hosts the winner of the other Wild Card Series between the lowest-seeded divisional winner and the lowest-seeded wild card team.[1] (From 2012 to 2021, the wild card team was assigned to play the divisional winner with the best winning percentage in the regular season in one series, and the other two division winners met in the other series.[2] From 1998 to 2011, if the wild-card team and the division winner with the best record were from the same division, the wild-card team played the division winner with the second-best record, and the remaining two division leaders played each other.) The two series winners move on to the best-of-seven NLCS. According to Nate Silver, the advent of this playoff series, and especially of the wild card, has caused teams to focus more on "getting to the playoffs" rather than "winning the pennant" as the primary goal of the regular season.[3]

From 2012 to 2021, the wild card team that advances to the Division Series was to face the number 1 seed, regardless of whether or not they are in the same division.[4][5][6][7] The two series winners move on to the best-of-seven NLCS. Beginning with the 2022 season, the winner between the lowest-ranked division winner and the lowest-ranked wild card team faces the #2 seed division winner in the Division Series, while the 4 v. 5 wild card winner faces the #1 seed, as there is no reseeding even if the 6 seed wild card advances. Home-field advantage goes to the team with the better regular-season record (or head-to-head record if there is a tie between two or more teams), except for the wild-card team, which never receives the home-field advantage.[8][9][10]

Beginning in 2003, MLB has implemented a new rule to give the team with the best regular season record in the league that wins the All-Star Game a slightly greater advantage. To spread out the Division Series games for broadcast purposes, the two NLDS series follow one of two off-day schedules. Starting in 2007, after consulting the MLBPA, MLB has decided to allow the team with the best record in the league that wins the All-Star Game to choose whether to use the seven-day schedule (1-2-off-3-4-off-5) or the eight-day schedule (1-off-2-off-3-4-off-5). The team only gets to choose the schedule; the opponent is still determined by win–loss records.

Initially, the best-of-5 series was played in a 2–3 format, with the first two games set at home for the lower seed team and the last three for the higher seed.[11][12] Since 1998, the series has followed a 2–2–1 format,[13] where the higher seed team plays at home in Games 1 and 2, the lower seed plays at home in Game 3 and Game 4 (if necessary), and if a Game 5 is needed, the teams return to the higher seed's field. When MLB added a second wild card team in 2012, the Division Series re-adopted the 2–3 format due to scheduling conflicts. However, it reverted to the 2–2–1 format starting the next season, 2013.[14]

Results

Key
Template:Dagger Wild card
Year Winning team Manager Games Losing team Manager
1981 Montreal Expos Template:Sortname 3–2 Philadelphia Phillies Template:Sortname
Los Angeles Dodgers Template:Sortname 3–2 Houston Astros Template:Sortname
1994 No Series due to a players' strike.
1995 Atlanta Braves Template:Sortname 3–1 Colorado RockiesTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname
Cincinnati Reds Template:Sortname 3–0 Los Angeles Dodgers Template:Sortname
1996 Atlanta Braves Template:Sortname 3–0 Los Angeles DodgersTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname
St. Louis Cardinals Template:Sortname 3–0 San Diego Padres Template:Sortname
1997 Atlanta Braves Template:Sortname 3–0 Houston Astros Template:Sortname
Florida MarlinsTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname 3–0 San Francisco Giants Template:Sortname
1998 Atlanta Braves Template:Sortname 3–0 Chicago CubsTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname
San Diego Padres Template:Sortname 3–1 Houston Astros Template:Sortname
1999 Atlanta Braves Template:Sortname 3–1 Houston Astros Template:Sortname
New York MetsTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname 3–1 Arizona Diamondbacks Template:Sortname
2000 St. Louis Cardinals Template:Sortname 3–0 Atlanta Braves Template:Sortname
New York MetsTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname 3–1 San Francisco Giants Template:Sortname
2001 Atlanta Braves Template:Sortname 3–0 Houston Astros Template:Sortname
Arizona Diamondbacks Template:Sortname 3–2 St. Louis CardinalsTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname
2002 St. Louis Cardinals Template:Sortname 3–0 Arizona Diamondbacks Template:Sortname
San Francisco GiantsTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname 3–2 Atlanta Braves Template:Sortname
2003 Chicago Cubs Template:Sortname 3–2 Atlanta Braves Template:Sortname
Florida MarlinsTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname 3–1 San Francisco Giants Template:Sortname
2004 St. Louis Cardinals Template:Sortname 3–1 Los Angeles Dodgers Template:Sortname
Houston AstrosTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname 3–2 Atlanta Braves Template:Sortname
2005 St. Louis Cardinals Template:Sortname 3–0 San Diego Padres Template:Sortname
Houston AstrosTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname 3–1 Atlanta Braves Template:Sortname
2006 New York Mets Template:Sortname 3–0 Los Angeles DodgersTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname
St. Louis Cardinals Template:Sortname 3–1 San Diego Padres Template:Sortname
2007 Colorado RockiesTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname 3–0 Philadelphia Phillies Template:Sortname
Arizona Diamondbacks Template:Sortname 3–0 Chicago Cubs Template:Sortname
2008 Los Angeles Dodgers Template:Sortname 3–0 Chicago Cubs Template:Sortname
Philadelphia Phillies Template:Sortname 3–1 Milwaukee BrewersTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname
2009 Los Angeles Dodgers Template:Sortname 3–0 St. Louis Cardinals Template:Sortname
Philadelphia Phillies Template:Sortname 3–1 Colorado RockiesTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname
2010 Philadelphia Phillies Template:Sortname 3–0 Cincinnati Reds Template:Sortname
San Francisco Giants Template:Sortname 3–1 Atlanta BravesTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname
2011 St. Louis CardinalsTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname 3–2 Philadelphia Phillies Template:Sortname
Milwaukee Brewers Template:Sortname 3–2 Arizona Diamondbacks Template:Sortname
2012 San Francisco Giants Template:Sortname 3–2 Cincinnati Reds Template:Sortname
St. Louis CardinalsTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname 3–2 Washington Nationals Template:Sortname
2013 St. Louis Cardinals Template:Sortname 3–2 Pittsburgh PiratesTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname
Los Angeles Dodgers Template:Sortname 3–1 Atlanta Braves Template:Sortname
2014 St. Louis Cardinals Template:Sortname 3–1 Los Angeles Dodgers Template:Sortname
San Francisco GiantsTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname 3–1 Washington Nationals Template:Sortname
2015 New York Mets Template:Sortname 3–2 Los Angeles Dodgers Template:Sortname
Chicago CubsTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname 3–1 St. Louis Cardinals Template:Sortname
2016 Los Angeles Dodgers Template:Sortname 3–2 Washington Nationals Template:Sortname
Chicago Cubs Template:Sortname 3–1 San Francisco GiantsTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname
2017 Chicago Cubs Template:Sortname 3–2 Washington Nationals Template:Sortname
Los Angeles Dodgers Template:Sortname 3–0 Arizona DiamondbacksTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname
2018 Milwaukee Brewers Template:Sortname 3–0 Colorado Rockies Template:Dagger Template:Sortname
Los Angeles Dodgers Template:Sortname 3–1 Atlanta Braves Template:Sortname
2019 Washington Nationals Template:Dagger Template:Sortname 3–2 Los Angeles Dodgers Template:Sortname
St. Louis Cardinals Template:Sortname 3–2 Atlanta Braves Template:Sortname
2020 Atlanta Braves Template:Sortname 3–0 Miami Marlins Template:Sortname
Los Angeles Dodgers Template:Sortname 3–0 San Diego Padres Template:Sortname
2021 Atlanta Braves Template:Sortname 3–1 Milwaukee Brewers Template:Sortname
Los Angeles DodgersTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname 3–2 San Francisco Giants Template:Sortname
2022 San Diego PadresTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname 3–1 Los Angeles Dodgers Template:Sortname
Philadelphia PhilliesTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname 3–1 Atlanta Braves Template:Sortname
2023 Philadelphia PhilliesTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname 3–1 Atlanta Braves Template:Sortname
Arizona DiamondbacksTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname 3–0 Los Angeles Dodgers Template:Sortname
2024 Los Angeles Dodgers Template:Sortname 3–2 San Diego PadresTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname
New York MetsTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname 3–1 Philadelphia Phillies Template:Sortname
2025 Milwaukee Brewers Template:Sortname 3-2 Chicago CubsTemplate:Dagger Template:Sortname
Los Angeles Dodgers Template:Sortname 3–1 Philadelphia Phillies Template:Sortname

Appearances by team

Apps Team Wins Losses Win % Most recent
win 		Most recent
appearance 		Games
won 		Games
lost 		Game
win %
20 Los Angeles Dodgers 11 9 Template:Winpct 2025 2025 40 38 Template:Winpct
19 Atlanta Braves 8 11 Template:Winpct 2021 2023 38 36 Template:Winpct
14 St. Louis Cardinals 11 3 Template:Winpct 2019 2019 36 20 Template:Winpct
10 Philadelphia Phillies 5 5 Template:Winpct 2023 2025 21 19 Template:Winpct
9 San Francisco Giants 4 5 Template:Winpct 2014 2021 17 21 Template:Winpct
8 Chicago Cubs 4 4 Template:Winpct 2017 2025 12 16 Template:Winpct
7 Houston AstrosTemplate:Efn 2 5 Template:Winpct 2005 2005 10 18 Template:Winpct
7 Arizona Diamondbacks 3 4 Template:Winpct 2023 2023 12 14 Template:Winpct
7 San Diego Padres 2 5 Template:Winpct 2022 2024 9 17 Template:Winpct
6 Washington Nationals 2 4 Template:Winpct 2019 2019 13 16 Template:Winpct
5 New York Mets 5 0 Template:Winpct 2024 2024 15 5 Template:Winpct
5 Milwaukee Brewers 3 2 Template:Winpct 2025 2025 11 10 Template:Winpct
4 Colorado Rockies 1 3 Template:Winpct 2007 2018 5 9 Template:Winpct
3 Cincinnati Reds 1 2 Template:Winpct 1995 2012 5 6 Template:Winpct
3 Miami Marlins 2 1 Template:Winpct 2003 2020 6 4 Template:Winpct
1 Pittsburgh Pirates 0 1 Template:Winpct Never 2013 2 3 Template:Winpct

Years of appearance

In the sortable table below, teams are ordered first by number of wins, then by number of appearances, and finally by year of first appearance. In the "Season(s)" column, bold years indicate winning appearances.

Apps Team Wins Losses Win % Season(s)
14 St. Louis Cardinals 11 3 Template:Winpct 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019
20 Los Angeles Dodgers 11 9 Template:Winpct 1981, 1995, 1996, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
19 Atlanta Braves 8 11 Template:Winpct 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
10 Philadelphia Phillies 5 5 Template:Winpct 1981, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
5 New York Mets 5 0 Template:Winpct 1999, 2000, 2006, 2015, 2024
9 San Francisco Giants 4 5 Template:Winpct 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2021
8 Chicago Cubs 4 4 Template:Winpct 1998, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2025
7 Arizona Diamondbacks 3 4 Template:Winpct 1999, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2011, 2017, 2023
5 Milwaukee Brewers 3 2 Template:Winpct 2008, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2025
7 Houston AstrosTemplate:Efn 2 5 Template:Winpct 1981, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005
7 San Diego Padres 2 5 Template:Winpct 1996, 1998, 2005, 2006, 2020, 2022, 2024
6 Washington Nationals 2 4 Template:Winpct 1981, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019
3 Miami Marlins 2 1 Template:Winpct 1997, 2003, 2020
4 Colorado Rockies 1 3 Template:Winpct 1995, 2007, 2009, 2018
3 Cincinnati Reds 1 2 Template:Winpct 1995, 2010, 2012
1 Pittsburgh Pirates 0 1 Template:Winpct 2013

Frequent matchups

Count Matchup Record Years
5 Atlanta Braves vs. Houston Astros Braves, 3–2 1997, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005
3 San Diego Padres vs. St. Louis Cardinals Cardinals, 3–0 1996, 2005, 2006
3 St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Cardinals, 2–1 2004, 2009, 2014
3 Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Atlanta Braves Dodgers, 2–1 1996, 2013, 2018
3 Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres Dodgers, 2–1 2020, 2022, 2024
2 St. Louis Cardinals vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Tied, 1–1 2001, 2002
2 Florida Marlins vs. San Francisco Giants Marlins, 2–0 1997, 2003
2 Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves Tied, 1–1 1998, 2003
2 Philadelphia Phillies vs. Colorado Rockies Tied, 1–1 2007, 2009
2 San Francisco Giants vs. Atlanta Braves Giants, 2–0 2002, 2010
2 New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Mets, 2–0 2006, 2015
2 St. Louis Cardinals vs. Atlanta Braves Cardinals, 2–0 2000, 2019
2 Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Washington Nationals Tied, 1–1 2016, 2019
2 Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Tied, 1–1 2017, 2023
2 Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies Phillies, 2–0 2022, 2023

NOTE: With the Houston Astros move to the American League at the conclusion of the 2012 season, the Braves vs. Astros series is not currently possible.

See also

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Notes

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References

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External links

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Nate Silver, "Selig's Dream: The Wild Card as Enabler of Pennant Races," in Steven Goldman, Ed., It Ain't Over 'til It's Over (New York: Basic Books): 170-178.
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ 1984 NL Championship Series, Baseball-Reference.com
  12. ↑ 1997 AL Division Series, Baseball-Reference.com
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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