New rules for MLB in 2022
Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani before batting during the second inning of a spring game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, April 3, 2022. Credit: AP/Ashley Landis
A rundown of new rules for the 2022 MLB season
-- Designated Hitter (adopted by the American League in 1973) added to the National League. Also, pitchers who start games in the batting order can remain in the game as a DH after leaving the mound. A DH can also enter the game to pitch.
-- Postseason expands from five teams in each league to six. The top two teams in each league automatically advance to the Divisional Series. The wild-card round will now be a best-of-three series. If the six-team playoff had been in place in 2021, the Blue Jays (AL) and Reds (NL) would have made the postseason.
-- End-of-season tiebreaker game (that dreaded 163rd game) eliminated. Instead, a series of tiebreakers will be used to decide things. First among these tiebreakers is head-to-head winning percentage. Last on the list is a coin toss.
-- Doubleheaders will be nine-inning games rather than the seven-inning format used in 2020 and 2021.
-- Player uniforms will have advertising for the first time.
New managers
Mets: Buck Showalter replaces Luis Rojas
A’s: Mark Kotsay replaces Bob Melvin
Cardinals: Oliver Marmol replaces Mike Shildt
Padres: Bob Melvin replaces Jayce Tingler
New Hall of Famers
Cooperstown welcomes seven new members this summer: David Ortiz (voted in by the BBWAA); Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Minnie Minoso and Tony Oliva (voted in by the Golden Days Era Committee); and executives Bud Fowler and Buck O’Neil (by the Early Baseball Era Committee).
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