On September 30, Cal Raleigh hit a walk-off home run against the Oakland Athletics, clinching their first playoff berth since 2001.

[4] They defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALWCS, but lost to the eventual champion Houston Astros in the ALDS.

The Houston series involved a three-game sweep against the Mariners, complete with an 18-inning loss where they failed to score a single run in their first postseason game played in Seattle since October 18, 2001.

The longest postseason drought in major North American sports now belonged to the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association, who had failed to make the playoffs every year since 2006.

[6] As a result, the team owners voted unanimously to lockout the players stopping all free agency and trades.

The National League will adopt the designated hitter full-time, a draft lottery will be implemented, the postseason will expand from ten teams to twelve, and advertising patches will appear on player uniforms and helmets for the first time.