It could be about the same with 154 games. Let's say the Nats have the AL West. Simply cut out a series with Texas and Houston. The Phillies could cut out a series with Oakland and the A's. We'd still play the rival series against the Oreos.
I hate the rival series.
Hypothetically, if we were in a very tight race with the Mets, and we have extra games against the Orioles and the Mets have extra games against the Yankees, and the Yankees are awful this year, that could make or break the difference. That's stupid. All division vs. another division is at least equal.
