When Major League Baseball initially began to explore how to play its 2020 regular season amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, scenarios were predicated on establishing a bubble for teams.
MLB, long touted as being too beholden to tradition, was seemingly ahead of the curve. However, players pushed back on potentially being isolated from their family for upwards of five or six months, and MLB ultimately abandoned the plan.
Whereas the NBA, NHL and MLS moved forward with a bubble for their respective seasons and playoffs, MLB opted for a geographically-based schedule with games played in home ballparks.
However, as the postseason draws near, MLB is seemingly intent on establishing multiple bubbles. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the final details of such plan have been set, with Globe Life Field, Minute Maid Park, Dodger Stadium and Dodger Stadium likely to be utilized:
Under the plan, the World Series would start Oct. 20 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, and would end no later than Oct. 28. It would culminate a month of playoff games that begins with the top four seeds in each league hosting all the games in a best-of-three wild-card series. The four American League series would run Sept. 29, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, and the National League would play Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and Oct. 2.
The highest remaining seed in the NL would play its division series in Arlington, while the next-highest seed would face its opponent at Houston’s Minute Maid Park. The top seed from the AL would be the home team at San Diego’s Petco Park, while the other series would be held at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium. The AL Championship Series would take place in San Diego and the NLCS in Arlington, giving the NL’s top seed — likely the Los Angeles Dodgers — a path to a stationary October.
As has long been indicated, the Los Angeles Dodgers — despite likely being on pace to finish with the best record in the National League — would not enjoy any semblance of a home-field advantage.
Though, the plan that is pending approval from the MLB Players Association, would have the Dodgers playing nearly all their postseason games at Globe Life Field if they are to finish atop the NL and advance to the World Series.
The only exception to that would be the Dodgers first hosting a best-of-three Wild Card Series at Dodger Stadium.
Turner questions proposed postseason bubble protocols
Part of shifting to a postseason bubble entails MLB having early plans for players to separate from family members, who would be required to quarantine. That has not sat well with many, including Justin Turner.
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