<Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> MLB seasons </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> ← 2016 2018 → </Td> </Tr> <P> The 2017 Major League Baseball season began on April 2, 2017 with three games, including the 2016 World Series champions Chicago Cubs facing off against the St. Louis Cardinals, and ended on October 1 . The postseason began on October 3 . The 2017 World Series began October 24 and Game 7 was played on November 1, in which the Houston Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5 - 1, to capture their first World Series championship in franchise history . </P> <P> The 88th Major League Baseball All - Star Game was held on July 11 at Marlins Park, the home of the Miami Marlins . For the first time since 2002 when the game ended in a tie, the All Star Game did not determine home field advantage for the World Series . Instead, home field advantage was awarded to the team with the better regular season record . The American League won 2--1 in 10 innings . </P>

How many games in the major league baseball playoff series