How the expanded MLB postseason field works

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The MLB postseason began on Tuesday, and it has a much different look than years past.After a 60-game regular season, 16 teams are competing for a World Series title this September/October. The expanded field added an extra series in place of the Wild Card games.Confused about how the postseason works this year? Here’s your guide!

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Gone this season are the do-or-die AL and NL Wild Card Games, replaced with a best-of-three series. Each game is played at the higher seed’s home ballpark, with no in-series off days.

The AL Wild Card Round is scheduled for Tuesday-Thursday this week, while the NL goes Wednesday-Friday. A look at the AL’s matchups:

(1) Rays vs. (8) Blue Jays
(4) Indians vs. (5) Yankees
(3) Twins vs. (6) Astros
(2) A’s vs. (7) White Sox

And the NL’s:
(1) Dodgers vs. (8) Brewers
(4) Padres vs. (5) Cardinals
(3) Cubs vs. (6) Marlins
(2) Braves vs. (7) Reds 

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The eight winners from the Wild Card Round will advance to the traditional five-game Division Series, but in a significant change, each postseason series from this round on will be played in a bubble.  

Petco Park (Padres) and Dodger Stadium (Dodgers) will host the ALDS (Oct. 5-9).

Petco Park: Rays/Blue Jays vs. Indians/Yankees
Dodger Stadium: A’s/White Sox vs. Twins/Astros

Globe Life Field (Rangers) and Minute Maid Park (Astros) will host the NLDS (Oct. 6-10).

Globe Life Field: Dodgers/Brewers vs. Padres/Cardinals
Minute Maid Park: Braves/Reds vs. Cubs/Marlins 

There are also no in-series off days this round or in the Championship Series.

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Petco Park and Globe Life Field will host the ALCS (Oct. 11-17) and NLCS (Oct. 12-18) respectively. 

Globe Life Field will also host the World Series (Oct. 20-28), and unlike the first three rounds, there are two off days scheduled (Oct. 22 and 26) during the Fall Classic.

Globe Life Field will have a different environment than any MLB game this season. A limited number of fans, approximately 11,000, will be in attendance at the NLCS and World Series.

Fans have been in attendance for zero games this season.

Got all that? Let’s play ball.

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