The 2016 Major League Baseball season began on April 3, 2016, with a Sunday afternoon matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates, the two teams with the best regular-season records in 2015, at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. The regular season ended on Sunday, October 2, 2016, and the postseason on Wednesday, November 2, 2016, with the Chicago Cubs coming back from a three games to one deficit to defeat the Cleveland Indians in the World Series and win their first championship since 1908.
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim shortened their name to its original Los Angeles Angels.
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game's 87th edition was played on July 12 at Petco Park in San Diego, California, home of the San Diego Padres. The American League was awarded home-field advantage in the World Series by winning the game 4–2.
The season featured two cancelled games. The first was the September 25th game between the Marlins and Braves following the death of Jose Fernandez. The second was a makeup between Cleveland and Detroit was to occur on October 3rd but was cancelled due to having no impact on the league standings.
Standings
American League
National League
Postseason
Bracket
Schedule As was the case in 2015, teams were scheduled to play 19 games against each division opponent for a total of 76 games, and six or seven games against each team from the other two divisions in its league for a total of 66 games. The Civil Rights Game was not played this year.
All teams were scheduled to play 20 interleague games throughout the season. For 2016, the interleague matchups were to be AL East vs. NL West, AL Central vs. NL East, and AL West vs. NL Central.
On July 3, 2016, the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins played the Fort Bragg Game, a special neutral-site game at Fort Bragg Stadium, a newly constructed field in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in observance of the Independence Day long weekend. It was the first professional, regular-season sporting event held on an active military installation. A two-game series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins was also scheduled for Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Puerto Rico in May 2016; however, on May 6, 2016, Major League Baseball announced that the Puerto Rico games would be postponed due to the ongoing Zika virus epidemic, and moved back to Marlins Park.
Rule changes In February 2016, Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association agreed to two rule changes. Rule 6.01(j) delineates criteria for a legal slide while trying to break up a double play, which is defined as making contact with the ground before reaching the base, being able to and attempting to reach the base with a hand or foot, being able to and attempting to remain on the base at the completion of the slide (except at home plate) and not changing his path for the purpose of initiating contact with a fielder. This is intended to protect infielders while still allowing for aggressive baserunning. This rule was implemented after Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Chase Utley slid into New York Mets infielder Ruben Tejada during the seventh inning of Game 2 in the previous year's National League Division Series. The second rule change limits managers and coaches visits to the mound to 30 seconds and shortens between innings break times by 20 seconds to match television commercial breaks.
Managerial changes
General managers
Offseason TeamFormer GMNew GMReason for leavingNotesAtlanta BravesJohn HartJohn CoppolellaPromotedOn October 1, 2015, John Coppolella was promoted to General Manager, replacing John Hart, who will continue in his role as President of Baseball Operations.Cincinnati RedsWalt JockettyDick WilliamsPromotedOn November 4, 2015, Dick Williams was promoted to General Manager, replacing Walt Jocketty, who will stay on as director of operations for at least one more year.Los Angeles AngelsBill StonemanBilly EpplerInterimOn October 4, 2015, the night after the regular season ended in a loss to the Rangers, the Angels hired Billy Eppler as their new permanent general manager, replacing Bill Stoneman, who was the interim GM after Jerry Dipoto who resigned earlier in the season.Milwaukee BrewersDoug MelvinDavid StearnsResignedOn September 21, 2015, David Stearns replaced Doug Melvin who resigned from the club as general manager. He started his new job on October 5.Philadelphia PhilliesRuben Amaro Jr.Matt KlentakFiredOn October 24, 2015, Matt Klentak was hired as the new permanent general manager to replace interim GM Scott Proefrock, who was a temporary replacement for Ruben Amaro Jr., who was fired on September 10.Oakland AthleticsBilly BeaneDavid ForstPromotedOn October 5, 2015, General Manager Billy Beane was promoted to executive general manager. David Forst was promoted as the new general manager.Seattle MarinersJeff KingstonJerry DipotoInterimOn September 28, 2015, Jerry Dipoto was named the new permanent general manager of the Mariners, replacing interim GM Jeff Kingston, who replaced Jack Zduriencik.Toronto Blue JaysAlex AnthopoulosRoss AtkinsResignedAnthopoulos resigned on October 29, 2015, after six seasons as the general manager of the Blue Jays. Ross Atkins was named new GM days later.Miami MarlinsDan JenningsMichael HillFiredJennings was fired on October 29, 2015, as general manager of the Marlins. Michael Hill was named as his replacement.
In-season DateTeamFormer GMNew GMReason for leavingNotesJuly 18Minnesota TwinsTerry RyanRob AntonyFiredThe Twins fired Terry Ryan and replaced him with Vice President and Assistant General Manager Rob Antony on an interim basis.
Field managers
Offseason TeamFormer managerInterim managerReason for leavingNew managerNotesWashington Nationals Matt Williams None Fired Dusty Baker Matt Williams was fired on October 5, 2015, after two seasons with the team. He guided them to the division title in 2014 before losing to the San Francisco Giants. He finished with a 179–145 record. On November 3, 2015, the Nationals announced that Dusty Baker will be their new manager for the 2016 season.San Diego Padres Bud Black Pat Murphy Fired Andy Green Pat Murphy was named interim manager on June 16, 2015, after Bud Black was fired. He finished the 2015 season with a record of 42–53. On October 29, 2015, Andy Green was named the new permanent manager of the Padres.Miami Marlins Mike Redmond Dan Jennings Fired Don Mattingly Jennings made the unusual move from GM to manager when the Marlins fired Mike Redmond in May after a 16–22 start. The change failed to spark a turnaround, and the injury-riddled Marlins finished at 71–91, their sixth consecutive losing season. Jennings returned as GM and was subsequently fired from that role. On October 29, 2015, Don Mattingly was named the new manager.Seattle Mariners Lloyd McClendon None Fired Scott Servais McClendon compiled records of 87–75 in 2014 and 76–86 in 2015. On October 9, 2015, it was reported that new Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto wished to hire a new manager, rather than retain McClendon from the previous GM, Jack Zduriencik. On October 23, 2015, Scott Servais was the hired as the team's new manager.Los Angeles Dodgers Don Mattingly None Mutual Decision Dave RobertsDon Mattingly and the Dodgers parted ways on October 22 after five seasons together. The Dodgers had won their third straight NL West Championship, marking the first time in franchise history that they made the playoffs three years in a row. Their season ended when they lost to the New York Mets in the Division Series. Mattingly finished with a 446–363 record. On November 23, 2015, Dave Roberts was named the Los Angeles Dodgers new manager.
In-season DateTeamFormer managerInterim managerReason for leavingNew managerNotes May 17Atlanta BravesFredi GonzálezBrian SnitkerFiredBrian Snitker González was fired after starting the season with a 9–28 record, which was the worst record in baseball at the time. González in six-plus seasons finished with a 434–413 record with two playoff appearances.After the season was over, Brian Snitker was named as the new manager on October 11, 2016, dropping the "interim" title.
League leaders American League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Jose Altuve (HOU) .338 OPS David Ortiz (BOS) 1.021 HR Mark Trumbo (BAL) 47 RBI Edwin Encarnación (TOR)David Ortiz (BOS) 127 R Mike Trout (LAA) 123 H Jose Altuve (HOU) 216 SB Rajai Davis (CLE) 43
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Rick Porcello (BOS) 22 L Chris Archer (TB) 19 ERA Aaron Sanchez (TOR) 3.00 K Justin Verlander (DET) 254 IP David Price (BOS) 230.0 SV Zach Britton (BAL) 47 WHIP Justin Verlander (DET) 1.001
National League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG DJ LeMahieu (COL) .348 OPS Daniel Murphy (WSH) .985 HR Nolan Arenado (COL)Chris Carter (MIL) 41 RBI Nolan Arenado (COL) 133 R Kris Bryant (CHC) 121 H Jean Segura (AZ) 203 SB Jonathan Villar (MIL) 62
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Max Scherzer (WSH) 20 L Jimmy Nelson (MIL) 16 ERA Kyle Hendricks (CHC) 2.13 K Max Scherzer (WSH) 284 IP Max Scherzer (WSH) 228.1 SV Jeurys Familia (NYM) 51 WHIP Max Scherzer (WSH) 0.968
Milestones
Batters Trevor Story (COL): Became the sixth player in Major League history to hit two home runs in his debut, following Charlie Reilly, Bob Nieman, Bert Campaneris, Mark Quinn and J. P. Arencibia. He also became the first National League player to hit two home runs in his debut, and he became the first player to hit two homers in his debut on Opening Day. With a home run in his next game, Story joined the Cardinals' Joe Cunningham in 1954 as the only players in modern history (since 1900) with three home runs in his first two career games. With another home run in his third consecutive game, Story became the first player in Major League history to hit a home run in each of his first three big-league games. He is also the first player in Major League history to hit a home run for each of his first four hits. In his fourth career game, Story hit two more home runs making him the first player in Major League history to hit a home run in each of his first four big-league games. Story also became the fifth Major League player since 1900 to homer in each of his team's first four games of a season, joining Chris Davis, Nelson Cruz, Mark McGwire and Willie Mays. Hit his seventh home run of the season in his sixth career big-league game setting the record for most home runs through his first six Major League contests. With his ninth home run of April, on April 27 against Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Jon Niese, Story set a National League rookie record for home runs in April by breaking the record set in 2001 by Albert Pujols. Set the National League record for home runs by a rookie shortstop by hitting his 25th home run on July 23 against the Atlanta Braves. He broke the record that was set in 2007 by Troy Tulowitzki. Victor Martinez (DET): Became the first player in modern Major League history to hit a pinch-hit home run in his team's first two regular-season games after hitting a home run on April 6 against the Miami Marlins. Recorded his 1,000th career RBI on a two-out single off Ian Kennedy of the Kansas City Royals on April 21. He became the 280th player and the fifth Venezuelan-born player to reach this mark. A. J. Pierzynski (ATL): Recorded his 2,000th career hit with a single in the second inning against the Boston Red Sox on April 27. He became the 280th player to reach this mark. Ichiro Suzuki (MIA): Recorded his 500th career stolen base in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 29. He became the 38th player to reach this mark.