SCHEDULE & SEASON STRUCTURE

Regular Season Length: Each team plays a 162-game regular season, consisting of 54 three-game series.
Season Dates: The regular season begins on the last Monday of March and runs for 27 weeks, concluding on the last Sunday of September (approximately September 30th).
Block Structure: The regular season is divided into 14 two-week blocks for roster management and injury determination purposes:
Blocks 1-6: 2 weeks each, 12 games per block (2 series per block)
Block 7: 2 weeks, 6 games (1 series in Week 1 + All-Star week in Week 2)
Blocks 8-14: 2 weeks each, 12 games per block (2 series per block)
Expanded Roster Blocks: During Blocks 13 and 14 (the final two blocks of the regular season), teams may expand their active roster to 28 players with up to 14 pitchers, as outlined in Rule 6.1.2.

Series Format: All games are played in three-game series for scheduling efficiency and consistency.
Weekly Schedule Pattern:
Monday: League-wide off day (no games scheduled)
Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday (TWR): First three-game series of the week
Friday/Saturday/Sunday (FSaSu): Second three-game series of the week
Games Per Week: Teams play 6 games per week (2 three-game series) during normal weeks.
Games Per Block: Teams typically play 12 games per two-week block (4 series), except during Block 7 which has only 6 games due to the All-Star break.

The number of games played against different opponents varies based on league size to ensure a balanced 162-game schedule.
12-Team League Schedule (6 AL, 6 NL)
Interleague: 2 series vs. each of 6 teams = 12 series (36 games)
Same League: 8 series vs. each of 5 teams (4 home/4 away) = 40 series (120 games)
Additional Same-League: 2 series distributed among league opponents = 2 series (6 games)
Total: 54 series (162 games)
16-Team League Schedule (8 AL, 8 NL)
Interleague: 2 series vs. each of 8 teams = 16 series (48 games)
Same League: 5 series vs. each of 7 teams = 35 series (105 games)
Additional Same-League: 3 series distributed among league opponents = 3 series (9 games)
Total: 54 series (162 games)
20-Team League Schedule (4 divisions, 5 teams per division)
Interleague: 1 series vs. each of 10 teams = 10 series (30 games)
Same League, Other Division: 4 series vs. each of 5 teams (2 home/2 away) = 20 series (60 games)
Division Rivals: 6 series vs. each of 4 teams (3 home/3 away) = 24 series (72 games)
Total: 54 series (162 games)
24-Team League Schedule (4 divisions, 6 teams per division)
Interleague: 1 series vs. each of 12 teams = 12 series (36 games)
Same League, Other Division: 2 series vs. each of 6 teams (1 home/1 away) = 12 series (36 games)
Division Rivals: 6 series vs. each of 5 teams (3 home/3 away) = 30 series (90 games)
Total: 54 series (162 games)

Balanced Schedule: All teams maintain a balanced home and away schedule with 81 home games and 81 away games over the 162-game season.
Series Distribution: Home and away series are distributed as evenly as possible among all opponents, with any necessary adjustments made to maintain the 81-81 balance.

All-Star Week Timing: The All-Star break occurs during the second week of Block 7, approximately at the midpoint of the regular season.
All-Star Week Schedule:
Week 1 of Block 7: Normal schedule - 6 games (1 three-game series)
Week 2 of Block 7: All-Star week - All-Star Game only, no regular season games
All-Star Game: The annual All-Star Game is played during the All-Star week. Selection process and game format are determined by the Commissioner and League Presidents.
Block 7 Game Total: Due to the All-Star break, Block 7 contains only 6 regular season games instead of the standard 12 games.

Schedule Authority: The Commissioner is responsible for creating and publishing the league schedule, with assistance from artificial intelligence scheduling tools as needed.
Schedule Publication: The complete regular season schedule is released at the beginning of the calendar year, prior to the start of the season.

Trade Deadline Timing: The trade deadline occurs at the conclusion of Block 9, with 5 blocks (Blocks 10-14) remaining in the regular season.
Trade Deadline Effect: After the trade deadline, no trades may be executed for the remainder of the regular season, as specified in Rule 7 (Trading).