World Series to be played in Texas
The World Series will be played entirely at the Rangers’ new ballpark in Arlington, Texas, as part of a bubble agreement between Major League Baseball and the players’ association, the first time the sport’s championship will be played entirely at one site since 1944.
The Division Series, League Championship Series and World Series all will be part of abubble designed to minimize exposure to the coronavirus, which limited the regular season to a 60-game schedule for each club and caused 45 postponements.
Off days were eliminated for the Division Series and League Championship Series, which will stress pitching depth among starting rotations and bullpens.
“It tells you the talent of the whole team, and it’s what we do for 162 games,” Phillies manager Joe Girardi said. “There might be a little bit more offense.”
The two traditional off days were retained for the World Series.
First-round best-of-three matchups in a postseason expanded from 10 to 16 teams this year will be held entirely at the higher-seeded clubs. The final eight teams will shift to bubble environments.
“The agreement attempts to balance players’ experiences and concerns while making the accommodations necessary to best ensure a safe, healthy and successful conclusion to the 2020 season,” union head Tony Clark said.
TheWorld Series will be at Globe Life Field in Arlington, above, a retractable roof stadium with artificial turf that opened this year. The American League Championship Series will be at San Diego’s Petco Park, and the NLCS at Globe Life.
The AL Division Series will be at San Diego and Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium, and the NL Division Series at Globe Life and Houston’s MinuteMaid Park.
MLB has not made any determinations on whether spectators will be allowed but is hopeful some percentage of seats can be filled in Texas.