MLB announces 2020 postseason schedule
A year that has looked like no other will have a similarly unique finish.
Major League Baseball announced its schedule for the 2020 Postseason, highlighted by the first neutral-site Fall Classic in modern history.
Not only will the Division Series, League Championship Series and World Series all be played at neutral-site locations, but the schedule for these series has been altered in terms of off-days, meaning teams will have plenty of decisions to make when it comes to pitching.
The best-of-three Wild Card Series, best-of-five Division Series and best-of-seven League Championship Series will each take place without any off-days in between games. Teams will have to decide whether to use the traditional five-man rotation, or utilize four starting pitchers, with the potential for as many as three of them pitching on short rest.
Each series will be preceded by at least one off-day, though more are possible depending on when other series are completed.
The 116th World Series is slated to start with Game 1 on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at Globe Life Field in Arlington. A potential Game 7 is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 28.
The postseason is scheduled to commence with the top four seeds in each league hosting a best-of-three Wild Card Series, which are presented by Hankook, in their regular-season home ballparks.
The inaugural Wild Card Series are set to begin in the American League on Tuesday, Sept. 29, and in the National League on Wednesday, Sept. 30.
Beginning with the Division Series, all teams will shift to neutral-site locations in Southern California and Texas for the duration of the Postseason due to health, safety and competitive considerations.
All games in the AL Division Series, which are presented by Utz, will be played in San Diego and Los Angeles, while the NL Division Series, which are presented by Doosan, will take place in Arlington and Houston.
In the AL, the winner of the 1 vs. 8 matchup will face the 4 vs. 5 winner at Petco Park in San Diego, while the winners of the 2 vs. 7 and 3 vs. 6 matchups will square off at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
Both best-of-five ALDS will be scheduled for Monday, Oct. 5 through Friday, Oct. 9.
In the NL, Arlington’s Globe Life Field will host the Division Series featuring the winners of the 1 vs. 8 and 4 vs. 5 NL Wild Card Series, while the winners of the 2 vs. 7 and 3 vs. 6 series will play their NLDS at Houston’s Minute Maid Park.
Both best-of-five NLDS will be scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 6 through Saturday, Oct. 10.
San Diego will then host the AL Championship Series, which is presented by GEICO and will air exclusively on TBS, beginning Sunday, Oct. 11. A potential Game 7 would take place on Saturday, Oct. 17.
The NL Championship Series, which is presented by Camping World, will begin in Arlington on Monday, Oct. 12, with a potential Game 7 taking place on Sunday, Oct. 18. The NLCS will air exclusively on FOX or FS1.
