Major League Baseball has announced the schedule for the unique 16-team 2020 MLB playoffs, which are set to open with the wild-card round beginning Tuesday, Sept. 29, and continuing through the first neutral-site World Series in MLB history scheduled from Tuesday, Oct. 20 through Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
Will the Los Angeles Dodgers end their three-decade World Series drought? Will the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays or Tampa Bay Rays give the AL East another champion? Or will the young Chicago White Sox or San Diego Padres turn their exciting regular seasons into October glory? Here are the details on every matchup of this year’s playoff format.
Key links: Playoff picture, current bracket | MLB standings | Format | Stock Watch
ESPN Radio will have live coverage of every postseason game.
Wild Card
Best-of-three. All games at home ballpark of better seed.
Wild-card series games will air on ESPN and TBS
Tuesday, Sept. 29
AL Wild-Card Series A (1/8) Game 1
AL Wild-Card Series B (2/7) Game 1
AL Wild-Card Series C (3/6) Game 1
AL Wild-Card Series D (4/5) Game 1
Wednesday, Sept. 30
AL Wild-Card Series A (1/8) Game 2
AL Wild-Card Series B (2/7) Game 2
AL Wild-Card Series C (3/6) Game 2
AL Wild-Card Series D (4/5) Game 2
NL Wild-Card Series A (1/8) Game 1
NL Wild-Card Series B (2/7) Game 1
NL Wild-Card Series C (3/6) Game 1
NL Wild-Card Series D (4/5) Game 1
Thursday, Oct. 1
AL Wild-Card Series A (1/8) Game 3 (if necessary)
AL Wild-Card Series B (2/7) Game 3 (if necessary)
AL Wild-Card Series C (3/6) Game 3 (if necessary)
AL Wild-Card Series D (4/5) Game 3 (if necessary)
NL Wild-Card Series A (1/8) Game 2
NL Wild-Card Series B (2/7) Game 2
NL Wild-Card Series C (3/6) Game 2
NL Wild-Card Series D (4/5) Game 2
Friday, Oct. 2
NL Wild-Card Series A (1/8) Game 3 (if necessary)
NL Wild-Card Series B (2/7) Game 3 (if necessary)
NL Wild-Card Series C (3/6) Game 3 (if necessary)
NL Wild-Card Series D (4/5) Game 3 (if necessary)
Division Series
Best-of-five. ALDS in San Diego and Los Angeles. NLDS in Houston and in Arlington.
Monday, Oct. 5
AL Division Series A Game 1, San Diego, (1/8 vs. 4/5 winners) TBS
AL Division Series B Game 1, Los Angeles (2/7 vs. 3/6 winners) TBS
Tuesday, Oct. 6
AL Division Series A Game 2, San Diego, (1/8 vs 4/5 winners) TBS
AL Division Series B Game 2, Los Angeles (2/7 vs. 3/6 winners) TBS
NL Division Series A Game 1, Arlington (1/8 vs. 4/5 winners) FS1 or MLBN
NL Division Series B Game 1, Houston (2/7 vs. 3/6 winners) FS1 or MLBN
Wednesday, Oct. 7
AL Division Series A Game 3, San Diego, (1/8 vs 4/5 winners) TBS
AL Division Series B Game 3, Los Angeles (2/7 vs. 3/6 winners) TBS
NL Division Series A Game 2, Arlington (1/8 vs. 4/5 winners) FS1 or MLBN
NL Division Series B Game 2, Houston (2/7 vs. 3/6 winners) FS1 or MLBN
Thursday, Oct. 8
AL Division Series A Game 4, San Diego, (1/8 vs 4/5 winners) TBS (if necessary)
AL Division Series B Game 4, Los Angeles (2/7 vs. 3/6 winners) TBS (if necessary)
NL Division Series A Game 3, Arlington (1/8 vs. 4/5 winners) FS1 or MLBN
NL Division Series B Game 3, Houston (2/7 vs. 3/6 winners) FS1 or MLBN
Friday, Oct. 9
AL Division Series A Game 5, San Diego, (1/8 vs 4/5 winners) TBS (if necessary)
AL Division Series B Game 5, Los Angeles (2/7 vs. 3/6 winners) TBS (if necessary)
NL Division Series A Game 4, Arlington (1/8 vs. 4/5 winners) FS1 (if necessary)
NL Division Series B Game 4, Houston (2/7 vs. 3/6 winners) FS1 (if necessary)
Saturday, Oct. 10
NL Division Series A Game 5, Arlington (1/8 vs. 4/5 winners) FS1 (if necessary)
NL Division Series B Game 5, Houston (2/7 vs. 3/6 winners) FS1 (if necessary)
League Championship Series
Best-of-seven. ALCS in San Diego; NLCS in Arlington
Sunday, Oct. 11
ALCS Game 1, San Diego, TBS
Monday, Oct. 12
ALCS Game 2, San Diego, TBS
NLCS Game 1, Arlington, Fox or FS1
Tuesday, Oct. 13
ALCS Game 3, San Diego, TBS
NLCS Game 2, Arlington, Fox or FS1
Wednesday, Oct. 14
ALCS Game 4, San Diego, TBS
NLCS Game 3, Arlington, Fox or FS1
Thursday, Oct. 15
ALCS Game 5, San Diego, TBS (if necessary)
NLCS Game 4, Arlington, Fox or FS1
Friday, Oct. 16
ALCS Game 6, San Diego, TBS (if necessary)
NLCS Game 5, Arlington, Fox or FS1 (if necessary)
Saturday, Oct. 17
ALCS Game 7, San Diego, TBS (if necessary)
NLCS Game 6, Arlington, Fox or FS1 (if necessary)
Sunday, Oct. 18
NLCS Game 7, Arlington, Fox or FS1 (if necessary)
World Series
Best-of-seven. All games in Arlington and on Fox
Tuesday, Oct. 20
World Series Game 1
Wednesday, Oct. 21
World Series Game 2
Friday, Oct. 23
World Series Game 3
Saturday, Oct. 24
World Series Game 4
Sunday, Oct. 25
World Series Game 5 (if necessary)
Tuesday, Oct. 27
World Series Game 6 (if necessary)
Wednesday, Oct. 28
World Series Game 7 (if necessary)