"MLB and the networks pre-determine the World Series dates and want them locked in ahead of time, which doesn't allow the natural flow of the LCS games to dictate when the final clash begins. Instead, the possibility of the most extreme scenario is prioritized in case the league with the later start date in the LCS goes seven games, and then there's a postponement of Game 6 or 7, and then the road team in that series has to travel to a new destination."
"But fortunately for them, this works out perfectly because their entire plan revolves around limiting the exposure of their bullpen (which sucks when the team has to play every day). So with extra time off, they can be both aggressive with sending Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani deep into games the first time through, and then end up in a situation where they still have plenty of gas in the tank to use their Game 4 and Game 5 starters in relief in Games 6 and 7 if needed."
MLB and broadcast partners preset World Series dates to accommodate worst-case LCS travel and postponement scenarios. That scheduling prevents the LCS natural timeline from determining the World Series start and creates forced layoff days for earlier-surviving teams. Longer layoff often results in teams sitting idle for a week or more before the World Series, reducing game rhythm and altering competitive fairness. The Dodgers experienced a significant layoff, playing ten games in 25 days, which allows deliberate bullpen rest and aggressive use of rotation depth. Rest enables starters to go deep initially and preserves options to use those starters in relief later.
Read at Over the Monster
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