Southern California and Texas are emerging as frontrunners to host the MLB playoff bubble, with each league playing in one location.
The MLB is narrowing its options for the locations of its postseason bubble, with Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports and The Athletic reporting the league has talked about sending the American and National Leagues to separate locations in Texas and Southern California before playing the World Series at Globe Life Field, the home of the Texas Rangers.
According to Rosenthal, the American League playoffs would be held in Southern California, while the National League playoff teams would travel to Texas. The structure of the plan is very similar to the NHL’s, where the Eastern and Western conferences are playing at separate bubble locations.
Not close to final, but postseason plan at “controlled sites” being discussed, per sources: AL in southern California, NL in Texas. World Series possibly at Rangers’ new ballpark. League talking with union about possibilities. Final plan would be subject to ownership approval.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 26, 2020
The World Series could be played at the home of the Texas Rangers
The MLB would be wise to adopt the bubble approach for its postseason, especially considering the league’s struggles in keeping teams healthy. The Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals have both had well-documented struggles containing locker room COVID-19 outbreaks, and a bubble format would solve some of those issues.
With the playoffs expanded from 10 to 16 teams in 2020, baseball fans have to be excited for the postseason. The NBA bubble has produced some of the most exciting, competitive basketball of the season, and baseball fans should expect a similar situation for their playoffs.
While Rosenthal admitted that a final confirmation is still a ways away, it appears that the MLB’s plan is coming together. With September just a week away, the playoffs are rapidly approaching, and the league will need an airtight plan to ensure that the season can safely finish.
The league has at least pinpointed some warm weather locations for the postseason, and a decision will come down to an owner vote, as Rosenthal said. However, after weeks of labor strife and public criticism of commissioner Rob Manfred’s lack of a plan, the league at least appears to have employed a proactive approach regarding its playoff plan.