Playoffs Guide

Making the playoffs is the key goal of the league - once you get there, you always have a chance to make something special happen.

Getting into the Playoffs

Understanding the Playoff Format

BaseHit playoffs consist of three rounds – each played over a best-of-seven format (first team to win 4 games wins the series). There are rest days after Games 2 and 5. The team enjoying home-field advantage hosts Games 1, 2, 6 and 7.

Division Championship: The two top teams from each division compete in the Division Championship Series (DCS). The division champion enjoys home-field advantage, and the series commences every season on September 30th.

League Championship: This is the second round where the winners of the DCSs from divisions 1 & 2 and divisions 3 & 4 face off in two separate League Championship Series (LCS). Home-field advantage is granted to the team with a superior win-loss record, with any tie resolved by the head-to-head record from the 9 regular season games between the contenders. The LCS begins every year on October 10th.

World Series: The crowning event is the World Series, where the LCS winners, who are the Pennant winners from their conference, face each other. Home-field advantage rules are similar to the LCS, and the head-to-head record is from the 3 regular season games between the rivals. This thrilling showdown begins each season with Game 1 on October 20th.

Managing Your Pitching Rotations

In the playoffs, managing a pitching rotation varies from the regular season due to the additional days off and extended off-season rest. Here's how you can do it:

Your regular season rotation order will continue into the playoffs unless adjusted manually. The rotation order follows from the previous round as you move onto the next one. A 3-man rotation can be utilized given the high competitive nature of playoffs. BaseHit permits a 5-man or 4-man rotation selection, but you can manually set a 3-man rotation. To do so, you move your Game 1 and 2 starters to positions 4 and 5, respectively, after their initial games, then repeat. This ensures your top three starters play all games if in order: Game 1: SP1 (your Ace) Game 2: SP2 (your 2nd best starter) Rest Day Game 3: SP3 (your 3rd best starter) Game 4: SP4 (your Ace) Game 5: SP5 (your 2nd best starter) Rest Day Game 6: SP1 (your 3rd best starter) Game 7: SP2 (your Ace)

Any remaining starters can be assigned to the bullpen. If your closer is underperforming, your 4th best starter might be a good fit. Alternatively, they can be deployed in middle and long relief roles should your main starters falter. We hope you find this guide helpful as you navigate the exciting path to being crowned Champion of our league! Enjoy your journey into the thrill of October Baseball in BaseHit!

The Playoffs. It’s why we play the game! For the chance to play into October – the chance to be crowned Champion of our league.

Here's what you need to know about the BaseHit playoff model – tie-breakers, how the playoffs work, and everything else.

Reaching the Playoffs

The top two teams from each of the four divisions make the playoffs – the division winner and the runner-up. Tiebreaker rules are based on the following:

1.) Overall record
2.) Division win percentage
3.) Run differential
4.) Runs scored
5.) Runs allowed
5.) Coin flip

Playoff Format

BaseHit uses a three-series playoff model. Each round is a maximum of 7 games, in other words, the first team to win 4 games wins the series. There are "travel days" in between Games 2 and 3 as well as between Games 5 and 6. The team with home-field advantage hosts games 1, 2, 6 and 7.

       * Division Championship: The four Division Championship Series (DCS) each feature the division winner playing the runner-up from that division. The division winner has home-field advantage. Game 1's are held each season on September 30th.
       * League Championship: The two League Championship Series (LCS) each feature the winners of the first round with divisions 1 and 2 matched against each other, and divisions 3 and 4 facing each other in the other LCS. Home-field advantage goes to the team with the best won-lost record. In the event of a tie, home-field is determined by the head-to-head record in the 9 regular season games between these two inter-division opponents. Game 1s are held each season on October 10th.
       * World Series: The two winners of the League Championship Series are Pennant winners of their conference and heading to the World Series. Home-field advantage goes to the team with the best won-lost record. In the event of a tie, home-field is determined by the head-to-head record in the 3 regular season games between these two inter-conference opponents. The Fall Classic kicks off each season with Game 1 on October 20th.

Pitching Rotations

With extra days off and a long off-season to rest, managing a pitching rotation in the playoffs is different than managing a pitching rotation in the regular season. Here are some suggestions for managing your pitching staff in the postseason:

• When the playoffs start, if you have not adjusted your pitching rotation during the regular season, Division Championship Game 1 will use your SP1 pitcher, Game 2 SP2, Game 3 SP3, Game 4 SP4, and so on. If you did change it, you will need to make sure your rotation is setup properly before the playoffs begin.
  
• When you advance to the next round, your rotation picks up where it ended in the previous round. For example, if your team sweeps (4-0) the Division Championship round using pitchers SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4 – SP5 will be used in Game 1 of the League Championship round. If your series ends after 7 games, your Game 1 starter in the League Championship round will be SP3.
  
• Because the playoffs are so competitive, it is possible and perfectly legal to use a 3-man rotation. Most starters can recover to full strength or very close to it on 3 complete days of rest. BaseHit currently allows you to select a 5-man or a 4-man rotation size, however you can do a 3-man rotation manually with great success. For example, move your Game 1 starter (usually SP1) to SP4 as soon as his start is completed, then move your Game 2 starter (usually SP2) to SP5, and so on. Use your worst pitchers to fill in the other starter pitcher roles (which, if you manipulate things correctly, they will never pitch). Things will turn out to look this way in a 7 game series (assuming all of your starters are able to pitch on schedule), guaranteeing your Ace three starts and the other two starters 2 starts:
  
  Game 1: SP1 (your Ace)
  Game 2: SP2 (your 2nd best starter)
  Off Day
  Game 3: SP3 (your 3rd best starter)
  Game 4: SP4 (your Ace)
  Game 5: SP5 (your 2nd best starter)
  Off Day
  Game 6: SP1 (your 3rd best starter)
  Game 7: SP2 (your Ace)
  
  

• Special note: if you use a 3-man rotation, slot your other starters into the bullpen. If you have closer problems, maybe slot your 4th starter as closer. If you have a solid closer, move the extra starters to fill the long and middle relief roles, just in case your playoff starters falter.