Playoff seeds are set. The Marlins’ first playoff run since 2003 starts with the Cubs
The Miami Marlins clinched their first playoff berth in 17 years at Yankees Stadium.
They’ll begin their postseason run at Wrigley Field.
The Marlins, with a 31-29 record, are the No. 6 seed for the expanded 2020 MLB playoffs and will face the Chicago Cubs to start their first playoff run since winning the 2003 World series. The series starts Wednesday. The first game of the three-game series is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. and will be televised on ABC. Game times and broadcast information for Games 2 and 3 remain to be determined. Their seeding was cemented Sunday when the St. Louis Cardinals defeating the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.
“I think we’ll be fine,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “Guys have enjoyed these last couple days. ... We’ll be rested. We’ll be ready. I think we’ve absorbed it fine. We’ve had a simple approach. That doesn’t really change with the playoffs for me. Just get ready to play, be prepared and play the game.”
The format
MLB expanded its playoff format for the 2020 season to include 16 total teams, eight in each league, instead of the normal ten. The top two teams in each division and the next best two teams in each league advanced to the playoffs this year.
All 16 teams are playing best-of-3 wild card series, with the American League starting on Tuesday and the National League on Tuesday. The top four seeds in each league (the three division winners and the division runner-up with the best record) are hosting the wild card series at their home ballparks.
From there, games move to hubs. The best-of-5 Divisional Series begin on Oct. 5 for the AL and Oct. 6 for the National League. The American League will play games at San Diego’s Petco Park and Los Angeles’ Dodgers Stadium, while the NL plays at Arlington’s Globe Life Park and Houston’s Minute Maid Park.
The best-of-7 Championship Series begin on Oct. 11 for the AL at Petco Park and Oct. 12 for the NL at Globe Life Park.
The World Series stars Oct. 20 at Globe Life Park.
There are no off days during the Wild Card, Divisional Series and Championship Series rounds since there is no travel required during the series. This could provide an advantage to teams with quality starting pitching depth, like the Marlins, because a full five-man rotation could be needed unless teams use starters on short rest.
The World Series will have its regularly scheduled off days after Game 2 and Game 5 (if necessary).
Rotation in ‘pretty good position’
While the location is set, the order for the Marlins’ starting pitching rotation for the series is not.
Mattingly has his three pitchers picked in Sandy Alcantara, Pablo Lopez and top prospect Sixto Sanchez. All three will be on at least normal four-day rest by the time the series with the Cubs begins on Wednesday.
“I think the best thing about being able to clinch the other night is that we can look ahead,” Mattingly said. “The fact of the matter is all our guys can be lined up. ... We can pick any guy and feel good about it, which way we’ll go. We’ve talked about extra rest — to give Sandy extra rest. He’s been our ace, for sure. But do we want to give him the extra day? We haven’t had a day off. Those are the discussions that we’re having, but we’re set up to do whatever we want. We’re in a pretty good position.”
Trevor Rogers, who has been the No. 4 pitcher in the Marlins’ rotation, will move to a bullpen role for the wild card series and would move back to the rotation should Miami advance to the NL Divisional Series. Jose Urena will miss the playoffs after suffering a non-displaced ulna fracture in his right forearm in the third inning Sunday. The Marlins also have Nick Neidert, Braxton Garrett and Dan Castano as long-relief/spot starter options.
Full wild card breakdown
National League:
▪ Milwaukee Brewers (8) at Los Angeles Dodgers (1)
▪ Cincinnati Reds (7) at Atlanta Braves (2)
▪ Marlins (6) at Cubs (3)
▪ Cardinals (5) at San Diego Padres (4)
American League
▪ Toronto Blue Jays (8) at Tampa Bay Rays (1)
▪ Chicago White Sox (7) at Oakland Athletics (2)
▪ Houston Astros (6) at Minnesota Twins (3)
▪ New York Yankees (5) at Cleveland Indians (4)
This story was originally published September 27, 2020 at 6:14 PM.
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