LEADING OFF: Bigger playoffs, new Texas park, Dbacks' MadBum

A look at what's happening around the majors Friday:

BIGGER PLAYOFFS

Baseball may be embarking on a smaller regular-season schedule, but the postseason just got bigger.

Major League Baseball and the players' union agreed Thursday to an expanded playoff structure that includes 16 teams instead of the usual 10. Since 16 of 30 teams will make the postseason, there's a very good chance that teams with a losing record will be included.

It's just another quirk in a season that's sure to be full of them.

“It’s such a unique season, why not try a little something different and make it as exciting as possible,” Colorado shortstop Trevor Story said. “I know it’s going to be such a sprint with the 60-game season; adding more playoff teams will just add to the fire and the excitement and the fandom around the game. Anything can happen in a 60-game season. I’m all for it.”

The division winners in each league will be the 1-3 seeds, the second-place teams in each division will be 4-6 and the two more wild cards will be the 7 and 8 seeds. The first round will be a best-of-three series and the pairings will be 1 vs. 8, 2-7, 3-6 and 4-5.

The higher seed in the first round would host all games. The sides agreed to decide tiebreaker rules later.

BRAND NEW HOME

The Texas Rangers officially open Globe Life Field, their new $1.2 billion stadium with a retractable roof. And they'll do it with the same starting pitcher from the finale in the old stadium across the street.

Lance Lynn faces the Colorado Rockies in his first opening day, getting the nod ahead of returning All-Star lefty Mike Minor and Corey Kluber, the two-time AL Cy Young winner acquired in a December trade from Cleveland. Lynn, who had 246 strikeouts last season, sent the Rangers out of the old stadium with a...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/LEADING-OFF-Bigger-playoffs-new-Texas-park-15430439.php