Major League Baseball will have an expanded playoff field this year.

The league and union agreed Thursday to expand the playoffs from 10 teams to 16 teams.

"This season will be a sprint to a new format that will allow more fans to experience playoff baseball," Rob Manfred said in a statement. "We look forward to a memorable Postseason concluding a year like no other."

All second-place teams in the six divisions will now qualify for the playoffs. The seventh and eighth playoff teams in each league will be determined by best record.

The first round of the playoffs, scheduled for Sept. 29-Oct. 2, will be four three-game series in each league with all games played at the higher seed's home stadium. The rest of the rounds will be their customary length.