The 162-game season, start to finish
The MLB season runs from spring training in February and March, through a 162-game regular season from late March to late September, to a 12-team postseason in October that ends with the World Series. In 2026, Opening Day was March 25, the earliest ever scheduled, and the regular season ended September 27, with the World Series set to begin October 23. The league has 30 teams, 29 in the United States and one in Canada, split between the American League and the National League, each with three five-team divisions.
Each team plays 81 home games. No other major league comes close, and that volume is what makes baseball the easiest major sport to attend on short notice. On most nights, supply exceeds demand, and the price of a seat depends on the date, the opponent and the promotion far more than on the ballpark.
- Spring training: exhibition games from mid-February to late March in Arizona (the Cactus League) and Florida (the Grapefruit League), in smaller ballparks where almost every seat is close.
- Regular season: 162 games. Since 2023, every team plays at least one series against every other team each year, so fans see every visitor at least once every two seasons at home.
- All-Star break: a four-day pause in mid-July. The 2026 All-Star Game was played July 14 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
- Postseason: six teams per league, through the Wild Card Series, Division Series, League Championship Series and World Series.
When baseball demand rises and falls
With 81 dates to fill, demand swings widely within a single homestand.
- Weekends. Friday nights, Saturdays and Sunday afternoons outdraw Monday through Thursday almost everywhere, and summer weekends are the busiest of all.
- Giveaways and theme nights. Bobblehead days, jersey giveaways, fireworks nights and theme nights are announced before the season and can sell out the lower levels of an otherwise ordinary date. Giveaways are usually limited to the first fans through the gates, so arrive early.
- Rivalries. Yankees–Red Sox, Cubs–Cardinals, Dodgers–Giants and the crosstown series in New York and Chicago draw beyond the standings. The 2026 Subway Series was scheduled for September 11 to 13 to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
- Opening Day and holidays. The home opener sells like a playoff game in many cities, and Fourth of July games draw families.
- Special events. The Field of Dreams game in Iowa, the Little League Classic in Williamsport and international series such as the Mexico City Series sell on their own markets.
- The pennant race. September games with a playoff spot at stake climb, while games between teams out of contention soften.
Resale prices for ordinary games tend to fall as first pitch approaches. In a study of secondary-market MLB tickets, economist Andrew Sweeting found sellers cut prices by 40 percent or more as a game approached (Sweeting, Journal of Political Economy). That research uses older regular-season data, so treat it as a historical pattern; high-demand games and the postseason often behave differently.
The postseason: a short-notice market
Since 2022, 12 teams qualify, six per league: the three division winners and three wild cards. The top two division winners in each league skip the first round. The Wild Card Series is best-of-three, with every game at the higher seed's park; the Division Series is best-of-five; the League Championship Series and World Series are best-of-seven.
October tickets sell on days of notice. Home dates are set only when a series is confirmed, later games in each round are conditional, and season-ticket holders get first access. If you buy a conditional game, read what happens if the series ends early.
The 30 teams by league and division
American League
- AL East: Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays
- AL Central: Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins
- AL West: Athletics, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers
National League
- NL East: Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals
- NL Central: Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals
- NL West: Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants
Two franchises are in transition. As of 2026, the Athletics play at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, a minor-league ballpark of about 14,000 seats including the lawn, while a Las Vegas ballpark is built for a planned 2028 move. The Tampa Bay Rays returned to Tropicana Field in April 2026 after a season away following hurricane damage. Check the team guide before buying for a future season.
How ballparks differ
Football stadiums and basketball arenas follow standard dimensions. Ballparks do not, and that changes what a seat is worth from city to city.
- Age and character. Fenway Park opened in 1912 and Wrigley Field in 1914, the two oldest in the league. Their charm comes with support posts and tight seats that can block part of the field; their guides flag the rows to check.
- Size. Dodger Stadium holds 56,000, the largest capacity in the majors, while the Athletics' temporary park holds about 14,000.
- Roofs. Chase Field in Phoenix, Globe Life Field in Arlington and loanDepot park in Miami have retractable roofs, and Tropicana Field is a fixed dome. In those buildings, the sun and rain questions mostly disappear.
- Sun and shade. In open-air parks, the side that falls into shade first depends on the orientation. At many parks it is the third-base side for day games, but not all, so check the ballpark guide.
- Quirks. Fenway's Green Monster is about 37 feet tall in left field, Coors Field sits at about 5,200 feet with a row of purple seats marking the mile, and Oracle Park sits on McCovey Cove, where night games can turn cold.
Where to sit and how to use the guides
The infield (sections between the dugouts) gives the best view of pitches and plays, and seats just behind the dugouts are the classic premium location. The outfield and bleachers are cheaper, social and sunny, and they are the place to catch a home run ball. Seats along the foul lines near the poles can angle you away from home plate, and low rows down the lines face the outfield rather than the batter. The guide to the best seats at a baseball game covers these trade-offs in detail.
Use the team guide to choose the game: rivals, giveaways, the schedule shape and which dugout belongs to the home team. Then use the ballpark guide to choose the seat: section numbering, shade, obstructed rows, transit and the bag policy, which varies by park and changes from season to season, so check the current policy before you go. Every GoodSeats order is backed by a 100% guarantee.
Baseball's audience keeps growing. The 2025 season drew 71,409,421 fans, the third straight season above 70 million and the first three-year run of attendance growth since 2005 to 2007 (MLB.com).
Opening Day and the postseason
MLB Opening Day is its own event, with home-opener demand, pregame ceremonies and cold-weather planning covered on its guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many home games does an MLB team play?
Each team plays 162 regular-season games, 81 at home and 81 on the road, plus spring training games and any postseason games it earns.
When does the MLB season start and end?
Spring training runs from mid-February through March, the regular season runs from late March to late September, and the postseason, ending with the World Series, is played in October.
Which baseball games are hardest to get tickets for?
Opening Day, rivalry series, popular giveaway dates, summer weekends, September games with playoff stakes and every postseason game draw the most demand.
How many teams make the MLB playoffs?
Twelve since 2022: three division winners and three wild cards in each league. The top two division winners in each league get a bye past the best-of-three Wild Card Series.
Do baseball ticket prices drop close to game time?
For ordinary regular-season games, resale prices have historically fallen as first pitch approaches. High-demand games, giveaways and the postseason often do not follow that pattern.
Which side of the ballpark is in the shade?
It depends on each ballpark's orientation. At many parks the third-base side shades first for day games, but not at all of them, so check the ballpark guide.