MLB Analysis and Explainers
Wild cards, tiebreakers and how the postseason bracket actually works — from 162 games a team down to the World Series.
The Best Record in Baseball Now Wins the World Series About One Year in Four
The team with MLB's best record has won the World Series in 53 of 121 seasons, but only 8 of 31 since 1995. The history by era, 100-win teams and 2026.
Winning Game 1 Has Led to a World Series Title 76 Times in 120
The Game 1 winner has won the World Series 76 times in 120, or 63 percent, since 1903. What 2-0, 3-1 and 3-2 leads are worth, plus sweeps and Game 7 records.
Eight Wild Cards Have Won the World Series, About What a Coin Flip Would Give Them
Eight wild card teams have won the World Series since 1995, 8 of 31, almost exactly what a coin-flip bracket predicts. The list and the 2026 wild cards.
How Many Wins Is a Run Worth? Run Differential, Pythagoras and the 2026 Tigers
Across 780 MLB team-seasons since 2000, every 10.2 runs of differential added a win. How the Pythagorean record works, and why the 2026 Tigers fell 12.6 short.
Does the Bye Help in the MLB Playoffs? What Four Octobers Say
Teams with an MLB playoff bye won 9 of 16 Division Series from 2022 to 2025, as many as their strength predicted. Plus 2026 World Series odds for all 12.
Everything MLB on Vertize Sports
All 2,430 games of the MLB regular season, month by month, plus a simulator that starts from the real standings and plays out whatever is left.