Expert: Brian Flaspohler - 9/29/2003

Question
understand 7 game  w.s. between winners of a.l.-n.l., but were does wild card winner come in?.

Answer
Noel,

I'm not sure I understand what you are asking.  I'll explain the playoffs and if I don't answer your question, please ask again.

Four teams from each league (AL and NL) make the playoffs.  Each league has three divisions.  The winner of each division gets into the playoffs.  The wild card team from each league is the team with the best record that didn't lead a division.

The four teams are then matched up in each league with the best record facing the team with the worst record, and second best facing the team with the second worst.  The first round winners are determined by whichever team wins best out of five.  Then those two winners play each other (best of seven) to determine the team that represents their league in the World Series.

So a wild card team might make the World Series - in fact, last year, both teams that made the World Series were wild card teams.

Hope this helps!

Brian