In Major League Baseball (MLB), a sweep refers, depending on the playoff format, to a 4–0, 3–0, or 2–0 series win where one team wins all the games without losing any. The following is a complete list of Major League Baseball postseason sweeps since the World Series began in .
World Series
League Championship Series Between 1969 and 1984, the League Championship Series (LCS) were held in a best-of-five format. Hence, to accomplish a sweep, a team had to win 3–0. Since 1985, the LCS has been held in a best-of-seven format, requiring a team to win 4–0.
+Key * Team went on to win the World Series
American League Year Winning team Manager Losing team Manager Best-of-five: 1969–1984 Baltimore Orioles Minnesota Twins Baltimore Orioles Minnesota Twins Baltimore Orioles Oakland Athletics Boston Red Sox Oakland Athletics Kansas City Royals New York Yankees Detroit Tigers Kansas City Royals Best-of-seven: 1985–present Oakland Athletics Boston Red Sox Oakland Athletics Boston Red Sox Detroit Tigers Oakland Athletics Detroit Tigers New York Yankees Kansas City Royals Baltimore Orioles Houston Astros New York Yankees
National League Year Winning team Manager Losing team Manager Best-of-five: 1969–1984 New York MetsAtlanta Braves Cincinnati Reds Pittsburgh Pirates Cincinnati Reds Pittsburgh Pirates Cincinnati Reds Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Pirates Cincinnati Reds St. Louis Cardinals Atlanta BravesBest-of-seven: 1985–present Atlanta Braves Cincinnati Reds Colorado Rockies Arizona Diamondbacks New York Mets Chicago Cubs Washington Nationals St. Louis Cardinals Los Angeles Dodgers Milwaukee Brewers
Division Series The Division Series first took place in , due to the 1981 MLB players' strike dividing the season up into two different halves. Winners of each half of the season played against each other in a best-of-five format. The best-of-five Division Series were reintroduced in , as part of a postseason and divisional realignment.
To complete a sweep in the Division Series, a sweep requires a 3–0 series win.
+Key * Team went on to win the World Series * Team went on to win the pennant, but lose the World Series
American League Year Winning team Manager Losing team Manager Oakland Athletics Kansas City Royals Cleveland Indians Boston Red Sox New York Yankees Texas Rangers New York Yankees Texas Rangers Seattle Mariners Chicago White Sox Boston Red Sox Anaheim Angels Chicago White Sox Boston Red Sox Oakland Athletics Minnesota Twins Boston Red Sox Los Angeles Angels New York Yankees Minnesota Twins Los Angeles Angels Boston Red Sox New York Yankees Minnesota Twins Baltimore Orioles Detroit Tigers Kansas City Royals Los Angeles Angels Cleveland Indians Boston Red Sox Toronto Blue Jays Texas Rangers Houston Astros Cleveland Indians New York Yankees Minnesota Twins Houston Astros Seattle Mariners Texas Rangers Baltimore Orioles
National League Year Winning team Manager Losing team Manager Cincinnati Reds Los Angeles Dodgers Atlanta Braves Los Angeles Dodgers St. Louis Cardinals San Diego Padres Atlanta Braves Houston Astros Florida Marlins San Francisco Giants Atlanta Braves Chicago Cubs St. Louis Cardinals Atlanta Braves Atlanta Braves Houston Astros St. Louis Cardinals Arizona Diamondbacks St. Louis Cardinals San Diego Padres New York Mets Los Angeles Dodgers Colorado Rockies Philadelphia Phillies Arizona Diamondbacks Chicago Cubs Los Angeles Dodgers Chicago Cubs Los Angeles Dodgers St. Louis Cardinals Philadelphia Phillies Cincinnati Reds Los Angeles Dodgers Arizona Diamondbacks Milwaukee Brewers Colorado Rockies Atlanta Braves Miami Marlins Los Angeles Dodgers San Diego Padres Arizona Diamondbacks Los Angeles Dodgers
Wild Card Series After being implemented in the pandemic-shortened 2020 MLB postseason, MLB permanently implemented the Wild Card Series starting , with a best-of-three format. To date, nearly every Wild Card Series held has ended in a sweep, with only 7 of the 24 series going to a Game 3.
+Key * Team went on to win the World Series * Team went on to win the pennant, but lose the World Series
American League Year Winning team Manager Losing team Manager Tampa Bay Rays Toronto Blue Jays Houston Astros Minnesota Twins New York Yankees Cleveland Indians Cleveland Guardians Tampa Bay Rays Seattle Mariners Toronto Blue Jays Minnesota Twins Toronto Blue Jays Texas Rangers Tampa Bay Rays Detroit Tigers Houston Astros Kansas City Royals Baltimore Orioles Chicago White Sox Houston Astros New York Yankees Boston Red Sox
National League Year Winning team Manager Losing team Manager Los Angeles Dodgers Milwaukee Brewers Atlanta Braves Cincinnati Reds Miami Marlins Chicago Cubs Philadelphia Phillies St. Louis Cardinals Arizona Diamondbacks Milwaukee Brewers Philadelphia Phillies Miami Marlins San Diego Padres Atlanta Braves Los Angeles Dodgers Cincinnati Reds San Diego Padres Chicago Cubs
See also
List of World Series champions List of American League pennant winners List of National League pennant winners List of Major League Baseball tie-breakers List of Major League Baseball game sevens
Lists of reverse sweeps List of teams that have overcome 2–0 series deficits in a best-of-five series List of teams that have overcome 3–0 series deficits
Notes
References
External links Playoff Sweeps at MLBSweeps.com