Having now agreed with the MLB Players Association on the plans for the postseason – plans aimed at doing the best the league can to get through the postseason uninterrupted by a COVID-19 outbreak – MLB today announced what’s up.
Firstly, as rumored, the initial round of the postseason (three-game set) will take place at the home ballpark of the higher seed. So, yes, it would be a good idea for the Cubs to win the NL Central. From there, it’s neutral site bubbles in California and Texas:
The 2020 @MLB Postseason will begin with the AL Wild Card Series on Tuesday, 9/29, while Game One of the 2020 World Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas will be played on Tuesday, 10/20. pic.twitter.com/KSzWMSAcBk
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) September 15, 2020
A significant additional wrinkle this year? No off-days.
The ALDS and NLDS will take place from October 5-9 and October 6-10, respectively. They are five-game series, and they will be completed in five days.
The ALCS and NLCS will take place from October 11-17 and October 12-18, respectively. Again, they are seven-game series, and they will be completed in seven days.
The World Series, from October 20-28, will have two off-days. But otherwise, you’re playing straight through. What if there’s rain, you ask? Or an outbreak? I guess we’ll see!
Like I wrote this morning about that rumor, it’s plausibly an advantage for teams – like the Cubs – that have deeper bullpens rather than just one or two super elite guys. This year, you’re just not going to be able to run those guys out there every single day and make it a seven-inning game on your side. Of course, the flip of that is that if you’ve got only two dominant starting pitchers, you could get exposed right out of the gate in games three, four, and five. Either way, you better hope your offense is hot.