The 2020 Major League Baseball postseason was the playoff tournament of Major League Baseball for the 2020 season. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league played only a 60-game season, and an expanded 16-team postseason tournament began on September 29, with games of all but the first round being played at neutral sites. A new best-of-three Wild Card series was added as the opening round of this postseason due to the shortened season caused by the pandemic; it would become a permanent addition to the postseason format starting in 2022.
In the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays made their second consecutive appearance, the New York Yankees and Houston Astros made their fourth consecutive appearance, and the Cleveland Indians made their fifth appearance in the last eight seasons. Also appearing in the AL side were the Oakland Athletics, who made their third consecutive appearance, and it would be their last during their time in Oakland as the team would relocate to Las Vegas. The Chicago White Sox returned for the first time since 2008, the Minnesota Twins made their third appearance in the past five seasons, and the Toronto Blue Jays returned for the third time in six seasons.
In the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers made their eighth consecutive appearance, the Atlanta Braves made their third straight appearance, the San Diego Padres made their first appearance since 2006, the Milwaukee Brewers made their third consecutive appearance, and the St. Louis Cardinals made their third appearance in the past six seasons. Also on the NL side were the now-Miami Marlins, who ended nearly two decades of futility by clinching their first postseason appearance since 2003, ending what was the second longest postseason appearance drought in the majors. The Chicago Cubs returned for the fifth time in the past six seasons, marking the first time since 2008 that both teams from Chicago made the postseason. Last but not least were the Cincinnati Reds, who returned to the postseason for the first time since 2013, marking the first time since then that both teams from Ohio made the postseason.
The postseason began on September 29, and ended on October 27. The World Series began on October 20 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, and ended on October 27, with the Los Angeles Dodgers defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in six games to win their first title since 1988. It was the Dodgers' seventh title in franchise history.
The following teams qualified for the postseason:
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The Rays swept the Blue Jays to advance to the ALDS for the second straight year.
Blake Snell pitched six solid innings as the Rays took Game 1. In Game 2, Mike Zunino and Hunter Renfroe both homered for the Rays as they blew out the Blue Jays to complete the sweep.
This was the first of three straight losses in the Wild Card round for Toronto. In 2022 they were swept by the Seattle Mariners, and in 2023 they would get swept by the Minnesota Twins, which was MinnesotaâÂÂs first playoff series win since 2002.
The Athletics defeated the White Sox to advance to the ALDS for the first time since 2013.
Lucas Giolito pitched seven solid innings as the White Sox took Game 1 in Oakland. In Game 2, home runs from Marcus Semien and Khris Davis would propel the Athletics to victory. In Game 3, the White Sox jumped out to an early 3âÂÂ0 lead, but the Athletics went on a 6âÂÂ1 run across the fourth and fifth innings to close out the series and advance. Game 3 was the last postseason game ever played at Oakland Coliseum.
This was the first playoff series win by the Athletics since 2006, and their last during their time in Oakland, as the team would relocate to Las Vegas.
This was the first postseason meeting between the Astros and Twins. The Astros swept the Twins to advance to the ALDS for the fifth time in six years.
Zack Greinke and Framber Valdez kept the Twins offense at bay in Game 1. Game 2 remained tied until the top of the seventh when Carlos Correa hit a go-ahead solo home run to put the Astros in the lead for good.
With the series loss, the Twins' playoff game losing streak had been extended to eighteen games. Both teams would meet again in the ALDS in 2023, which the Astros also won.
This was the fifth postseason meeting between the Yankees and Indians. The Yankees swept the Indians to advance to the ALDS for the fourth year in a row.
The Yankees blew out the Indians in Game 1 as Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres, Giancarlo Stanton, and Brett Gardner all homered for New York. Game 2 was an offensive shootout between both teams, which would be won by the Yankees 10âÂÂ9 as they completed a sweep.
Both teams would meet again in the ALDS in 2022, and the ALCS in 2024, with both being won by the Yankees in five games.
This was the second postseason meeting between the Dodgers and Brewers. The first was the NLCS in 2018, which Los Angeles won in seven games before falling in the World Series. The Dodgers swept the Brewers to advance to the NLDS for the eighth year in a row.
In Game 1, the Dodgers jumped out to an early 3âÂÂ0 lead, but it was narrowed to one thanks to a two-run blast from Orlando Arcia. However, Corey Seager would extend the Dodgersâ lead to two in the bottom of the seventh, which was good enough to secure the victory. Clayton Kershaw and Brusdar Graterol would silence the Milwaukee offense in Game 2 as the Dodgers won 3âÂÂ0 to close out the series.
Both teams would meet again in the NLCS in 2025, which the Dodgers also won in a sweep.
This was the second postseason meeting between the Reds and Braves. They last met in the NLCS in 1995, which the Braves won in a four-game sweep en route to a World Series title. The Braves once again swept the Reds to advance to the NLDS for the third year in a row.
Game 1 was a long scoreless affair that went into extra innings, where Freddie Freeman won the game for the Braves in the bottom of the thirteenth with an RBI single. Ian Anderson pitched six solid innings in Game 2 as the Braves blanked the Reds 5âÂÂ0 to close out the series and advance. This was the first playoff series won by the Braves since 2001.
This was the second postseason meeting between the Marlins and Cubs. The first was in a highly controversial NLCS in 2003, which the Marlins won in seven games en route to a World Series title as a result of the Cubsâ collapse after the Steve Bartman incident. The Marlins swept the Cubs to return to the NLDS for the first time since 2003.
Sandy Alcántara pitched six solid innings and Corey Dickerson and Jesús Aguilar homered for the Marlins as they won 5âÂÂ1 in Game 1. Game 2 was a pitchersâ duel between both teamsâ bullpens, which was broken in the top of the seventh when Garrett Cooper hit a home run off Yu Darvish to put the Marlins ahead for good.
This was the first playoff series win by the Marlins since the 2003 World Series.
This was the fourth postseason meeting between the Padres and Cardinals (1996, 2005, 2006). The Cardinals won all three previous meetings. This time, the Padres returned the favor, defeating the Cardinals in three games to advance to the NLDS for the first time since 2006.
Game 1 was an offensive slugfest that was won by the Cardinals. Game 2 was yet another showdown between both teamsâ offenses, which was won by the Padres as Manny Machado, Wil Myers, and Fernando TatÃÂs Jr. all homered for the Padres. In Game 3, the Padres gambled by going with a âÂÂbullpen gameâ strategy in which they used different pitchers every inning. This risk paid off for the Padres as they silenced the Cardinalsâ bats in a shutout victory to advance, exacting long-awaited revenge on the team that eliminated them from the postseason in three of their last four postseason appearances. This was the Padresâ first playoff victory since winning the National League pennant in 1998.
This was the first of three straight losses in the Wild Card round for the Cardinals, as they would lose to their archrival Los Angeles Dodgers the next year, and they would lose to the eventual National League champion Philadelphia Phillies in 2022.
The Rays defeated the Yankees in five games to advance to the ALCS for the first time since 2008.
The Yankees blew out the Rays in Game 1 as Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Clint Frazier, and Kyle Higashioka all homered for New York. Game 2 was an offensive shootout between both teams, which was won by the Rays as Austin Meadows, Mike Zunino, Manuel Margot, and Randy Arozarena all hit home runs. In Game 3, Arozarena homered again along with Michael Pérez and Kevin Kiermaier as the Rays won 8âÂÂ4 to take the series lead. The Yankees struck back in Game 4 to even the series as Gleyber Torres and Luke Voit both hit home runs to contribute to a 5âÂÂ1 victory. In Game 5, the Yankees struck first with a solo home run from Judge, but the Rays put up two unanswered runs thanks to home runs from Meadows and Mike Brosseau, and would hold on to win and advance to the ALCS.
The Astros upset the Athletics in four games to advance to the ALCS for the fourth year in a row.
The Astros blew out the Athletics as they rallied from an early 3âÂÂ0 deficit to win Game 1. In Game 2, George Springer and MartÃÂn Maldonado chased OaklandâÂÂs Sean Manaea from the mound as they won 5âÂÂ1 to take a 2âÂÂ0 series lead. In Game 3, five different players - Tommy La Stella, Mark Canha, Matt Olson, Marcus Semien, and Chad Pinder, all homered as the Athletics prevailed in an offensive shootout. Game 3 would be the last playoff game ever won by the Athletics during their time in Oakland. Game 4 would be won by the Astrosâ offense as Carlos Correa, Michael Brantley, and Jose Altuve all homered for Houston in an 11âÂÂ6 victory.
This was the last postseason appearance the Athletics made during their time in Oakland, as the team would relocate to Las Vegas.
This was the first postseason series to feature two teams from the same state since the 2002 World Series.
This was the first postseason meeting in the history of the DodgersâÂÂPadres rivalry, also known as the I-5 Rivalry. The Dodgers swept the Padres to advance to the NLCS for the seventh time in the past twelve years.
In Game 1, the Padres once again used the âÂÂbullpen gameâ strategy in which they used different pitchers every inning, but it wouldnâÂÂt work this time as the Dodgers easily won. The Dodgers would also take Game 2 to take a 2âÂÂ0 series lead. The Dodgers blew out the Padres in Game 3 to close out the series.
Both teams would meet again in the NLDS in 2022, where the 89-win Padres pulled off a colossal upset over the 111-win Dodgers. They would also meet in the NLDS in 2024, which the Dodgers won in five games en route to a World Series title.
This was the second postseason meeting between the Braves and Marlins. They last met in the NLCS in 1997, which was won by the Marlins en route to a World Series title. The Braves swept the Marlins to advance to the NLCS for the first time since 2001.
Ronald Acuña Jr., Travis d'Arnaud, and Dansby Swanson all homered for the Braves as they took Game 1. In Game 2, Swanson and d'Arnaud homered again, and Ian Anderson and the Braves bullpen blanked the Marlins as they took a 2âÂÂ0 series lead. Kyle Wright pitched six innings of shutout baseball in Game 3 as the Braves blew out the Marlins to complete the sweep.
This was the first playoff series loss by the Marlins in franchise history, previously they had gone undefeated through the postseason field in 1997 and 2003.
This was the second postseason meeting between the Rays and Astros. They last met in the ALDS the previous year, which the Astros won in five games before falling in the World Series. The Astros became the second team in MLB history to overcome a 3âÂÂ0 series deficit to force a Game 7 in a postseason series, the first team to do so since the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 ALCS. However, the Rays managed to hold on and win Game 7, knocking off the defending American League champions to advance to the World Series for the first time since 2008.
Blake Snell pitched five solid innings as the Rays took Game 1 narrowly. Former Astro Charlie Morton outdueled his old teammate in Lance McCullers Jr. in a pitcherâÂÂs duel in Game 2 as the Rays took a 2âÂÂ0 series lead. In Game 3, the Astros took an early lead, but it was erased by a 5âÂÂ1 run by the Rays in the sixth inning as they took a commanding three games to none series lead. However, the Rays werenâÂÂt out of the woods just yet. Jose Altuve and George Springer both homered in a 4âÂÂ3 Astros win in Game 4. Springer and Carlos Correa homered for the Astros in an identical 4-3 victory in Game 5. The Astros pitching overwhelmed Snell in Game 6 as they managed to force a seventh game. However, the Astros wouldnâÂÂt make history as the Rays jumped out to a 4âÂÂ0 lead thanks to home runs from Mike Zunino and Randy Arozarena and maintained it to win 4âÂÂ2 and clinch the pennant, surviving a scare.
The Astros would win the pennant the next year over the Boston Red Sox in six games before falling in the World Series.
As of , this is the last time the Rays won the AL pennant, and the last time a Florida-based team won a league pennant.
This was the fourth postseason meeting between the Braves and Dodgers (1996, 2013, 2018), and their first postseason meeting outside of the NLDS. The Dodgers overcame a 3âÂÂ1 series deficit to defeat the Braves in seven games, returning to the World Series for the third time in the past four years.
Freddie Freeman, Austin Riley, and Ozzie Albies all homered for the Braves as they took Game 1. Game 2 was a shootout between both teamsâ offenses, which was won by the Braves as Freeman and Albies hit more home runs. In Game 3, the Dodgers blew out the Braves by twelve runs as five players - Joc Pederson, Max Muncy (who hit a grand slam), Edwin RÃÂos, Corey Seager, and Cody Bellinger - all hit home runs. The Dodgersâ twelve run margin of victory was the third largest in a LCS game, surpassing their eleven-run margin of victory in Game 4 of the 1974 NLCS. The Braves responded with a blowout victory of their own in Game 4, as the Atlanta offense chased Clayton Kershaw from the mound. However, their lead wouldnâÂÂt hold. The Dodgers held on to win in Game 5 to stay alive in the series. Walker Buehler pitched six solid innings and Kenley Jansen got the save as the Dodgers narrowly won to force a seventh game. In Game 7, the Braves lead 2âÂÂ0 after two innings after a solo home run from Dansby Swanson, but the Dodgers rallied with a 4âÂÂ1 run across the next five innings to take the lead for good and secure the pennant.
This was the first of what is currently three NL pennants the Dodgers won during the 2020s decade - they would next win the pennant in 2024 over the New York Mets in six games, and in 2025 they won the pennant in a sweep over the Milwaukee Brewers en route to repeating as World Series champions.
Both teams would meet again in the NLCS the next year, and with Joc Pederson having switched sides, the Braves won in six games en route to a World Series title.
This was the first World Series ever played at a neutral site. The Dodgers defeated the Rays in six games to win their first World Series title since 1988 and seventh overall.
Clayton Kershaw pitched six solid innings as the Dodgers blew out the Rays in Game 1. In Game 2, behind Brandon LoweâÂÂs two home runs, the Rays evened the series. Walker Buehler pitched six solid innings as the Dodgers regained the series lead in Game 3. In Game 4, the Rays prevailed in a back-and-forth slugfest to even the series at two on a walk-off error committed by the Dodgersâ Max Muncy in the bottom of the ninth, which scored Randy Arozarena. Kershaw earned his second win of the series as the Dodgers won Game 5 to come within one game of the title. In Game 6, the Rays held a 1âÂÂ0 lead until the bottom of the sixth inning when Raysâ manager Kevin Cash removed starting pitcher Blake Snell from the mound and replaced him with relief pitcher Nick Anderson. The decision proved to be fatal for the Rays, as the Dodgers scored three unanswered runs in the bottom of the sixth and eighth innings to secure the title.
With the win, the Greater Los Angeles area had both NBA and MLB champions in the same season or calendar year, as the Los Angeles Lakers won the 2020 NBA Finals as well. This was the first time since 1988 that the Dodgers and Lakers brought championships to Los Angeles in the same season or calendar year. This was the first of what is currently three World Series championships won by the Dodgers during the 2020s decade - they would win it again in 2024 over the New York Yankees in five games, and in 2025 they repeated as champions against the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games after being two outs away from elimination in Game 7.
As of , this remains the last postseason appearance outside of the divisional round for the Rays, and this is the last World Series to feature a team from Florida.
This was seventh year of eight-year U.S. TV contracts with ESPN, Fox Sports, and TBS. With the temporary expansion to a 16-team playoff format, Wild Card Series games aired across TBS, ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC. This marked the first time that ABC had MLB playoff games since 1995, and the first time since 2006 that the network began using the ESPN on ABC branding. Fox Sports 1 and MLB Network then split the National League Division Series, and the Fox broadcast network and Fox Sports 1 split the National League Championship Series. TBS had the American League Division Series, and Championship Series. The World Series then aired on the Fox broadcast network for the 21st consecutive year.