Other than shortened seasons, is there a time when MLB teams do not play the entire 162 season?

Question

There were two seasons shortened by the strike I believe. Does any other situation arise where a team does play all the games scheduled?

Answer 1

Since the schedule expanded to 162 games (AL 1961, NL 1962), there have been four shortened seasons -- 1972, 1981, 1994, and 1995.

Teams try to make up rainouts, typically by scheduling a doubleheader or finding a common open date later in the season. Since interleague play (1997), however, the schedule has become sufficiently fragmented -- most IL opponents play each other only once -- that some rainouts are nigh-impossible to fit back in, and unless such a game is needed for determining postseason berths, MLB will let one or two go by the wayside. (In 1988, the Mets, Pirates, and Braves each played only 160 games. The Mets won the East by a mile ahead of the Pirates, and the Braves were dead last by another mile in the West, so the missed games made no difference.)

There is a contingency, such that if a game is missed by a contender and not made up, and is needed to determine berthings for at least one of the involved teams, it can be wedged in on the first day after the season. The Cardinals faced this last year, where if the Astros had caught them the Cards would have had to play the makeup game (forget the opponent), and then possibly a tiebreaker against the Astros -- but Houston fell short. AFAIK this never has been necessary.

Answer 2

Yes, when a game is postponed and the two teams do not have another common off day or another series against each other, and the game has no playoff implications, the game is not made up.

This situation happened last year, the Giants and the Cardinals had to postpone a game, and the two teams didn't have any remaining common off days or series. I remember that when the season was winding down, they were saying that if any of the teams in the NL Central were within a half game of the Cardinals (above or below) the Cards and Giants would have to make up the game they missed. As it happened, the Cardinals ended up winning the division by 1.5 games, so they didn't have to play the extra game.

Answer 3

There are some occasions when a team may only play 160 or 161 of their games. This most often happens when a team has games postponed because of rain. If it becomes clear near the end of the season that a game will have no effect on the pennant race, they simply choose not to play the game.

Answer 4

The first games for the Cleveland Indians were cancelled due to snow and then another series was played in Milwaukee - even though the Indians weren't playing the Brewers (I think it was the Angels). Anyway, I believe there's still one game with Seattle to be played after the end of the regular season if that game would make a difference for the playoffs. So the Indians and Seattle might only play 161 games this year.

Answer 5

Each team plays 162 games in the regular season.

Answer 6

Yes. In 2016 the Braves and Marlins cancelled the series finale in last week of season play because of the death of Jose Fernandez. Because a make up game would not impact the post season landscape they did not make up the game. Both teams finished with a total of 161 games in the 2016 season.

Answer 7

I know there have been a few times when some teams only played 161 games due to weather conditions. The final game of the season was postponed due to the weather, and since the teams involved weren't in post season contention, they never made it up.

Answer 8

Yes. If they have been unable to play a make-up game by the end of the season and the game no no playoff implications at all they may only play 161 games.

Answer 9

Play161 Games

Answer 10

Exactly what Dave said.