MLB Schedule Format Set to Change Starting in 2023

While the 2022 schedules have already been established and the change won’t come this season, MLB and the MLBPA agreed to a scheduling change beginning in 2023. Under the new agreement, teams will have less games against their divisional opponents and will play at least one series against all of the other 29 teams.

As it currently stands, MLB teams play 19 games against their four divisional foes. So, using the Pirates, nearly half of their schedule is made up of games against the Brewers, Cardinals, Cubs and Reds.

One of Major League Baseball’s bigger problems is exposure, and under this agreement, every team will play every team regardless of league. Instead of alternating interleague games by division every year, National League teams won’t have to wait three seasons to matchup with teams from the other league.

With the new system of everyone playing everyone, fans will have the chance to watch their teams play against some of the best players that they wouldn’t usually see as much. Players like Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be facing the Pirates and the other 29 teams annually.

Another change coming to scheduling under the new CBA is that there will be more “tours” as the league is calling it — games internationally. Over the next five years, there will be MLB games in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Asia, London and Paris, giving the league a chance to expand their game further internationally.