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Where will the World Series be played? Breaking down all the home-field scenarios

albert bainbridge iv, northjersey.com
·2 min read

In the blink of the eye, the 2023 Major League Baseball season is rapidly coming to an end.

And now the World Series is about to begin.

The Texas Rangers punched their ticket with Monday night's Game 7 American League Championship Series victory over the defending world champion Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.

The National League Championship Series will end Tuesday night as the Philadelphia Phillies and Arizona Diamondbacks prepare for Game 7 at Citizens Bank Park (8:07 p.m. start).

Here's what you need to know as the World Series approaches:

Who will have home field in 2023 World Series?

Oct 17, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) reacts with left fielder Kyle Schwarber (12) during the seventh inning for game two of the NLCS for the 2023 MLB playoffs against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) reacts with left fielder Kyle Schwarber (12) during the seventh inning for game two of the NLCS for the 2023 MLB playoffs against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Per MLB.com, the team that gets the honor of hosting the first two games of the World Series can happen two ways:

  1. The team with the higher regular-season win percentage earns the home field, regardless of whether that team won its division title or a Wild Card berth. That means playing host to Games 1-2 and 6-7 (if necessary).

  1. If two teams have the same regular-season win percentage, the tiebreaker is head-to-head record, which is possible now that every team faces every other team in at least one series. That tiebreaker could come into play for two possible 2023 World Series matchups.

Ironically, the Phillies, Rangers and Astros finished with a 90-72 record, meaning they all have the same winning percentage of .556. The Diamondbacks, who went 84-78 in the regular season, are the only team that does not have the opportunity to have home field advantage in the World Series.

So with the Astros now out of the equation, it would go to head-to-head records if it's Phillies vs. Rangers.

And in this case, the Rangers get home field advantage as they swept the Phillies in the season-opening series in Texas to begin the 2023 regular season.

So, either way, the Texas Rangers will have home field advantage in the World Series.

When does World Series start?

The World Series schedule is set with Game 1 on Friday, Oct. 27 on FOX. If it comes down to a Game 7, it would be two weeks away on Nov. 4. Official times for the 119th Fall Classic have yet to be announced.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Where will World Series be played? Breaking down home-field scenarios