MLB is ‘considering holding the playoffs in three bubbles’ after postponing 29 games due to COVID-19
- Major League Baseball is reportedly considering holding the 2020 postseason in three separate bubbles to limit the risk of coronavirus infection among teams
- Thus far, MLB has postponed 29 games due to teams’ coronavirus outbreaks
- The NBA, NHL, and WNBA all thwarted coronavirus by playing inside bubbles in Florida and Canada. Recent testing by all three leagues resulted in zero positives
Major League Baseball is reportedly considering holding the 2020 postseason in three separate bubbles to limit the risk of coronavirus infection after postponing 29 games of the pandemic-shortened season due to various outbreaks.
According to ESPN, it would be difficult for MLB to replicate the fully contained bubbles created by the NBA, NHL, and WNBA, which have thus far withstood the threat from coronavirus.
Players screened in Toronto and Edmonton (NHL) as well as IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida (WNBA), have all tested negative, while NBA players at Disney World in Orlando have gone three weeks without a confirmed case.
Major League Baseball is reportedly considering holding the 2020 postseason in three separate bubbles to limit the risk of coronavirus infection after postponing 29 games of the pandemic-shortened season due to various outbreaks
Tzu-Wei Lin of the Red Sox wears a mask as he looks on during an intrasquad game during a summer camp workout before the start of the 2020 Major League Baseball season on July 17
But even if MLB can’t recreate the NBA’s bubble, which relies on quarantining players and staff away from the general public, baseball officials are hopeful that a similar model could protect playoff teams from future waves of the virus.
Specifically, MLB is hoping to move past the coronavirus issues that have plagued the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, and Miami Marlins, all of which had multiple confirmed cases among players and staff.
MLB did expand its postseason before opening the season in July. Now, 16 teams will compete, which is why commissioner Rob Manfred is reportedly considering separate bubbles in three separate time zones.
Not only do Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York sit in different time zones, but all have two MLB stadiums that could be enlisted in the postseason. According to ESPN’s sources, those three cities currently rank as the favorites if MLB does decide to use a bubble.
MLB did expand its postseason before opening the season in July. Now, 16 teams will compete, which is why commissioner Rob Manfred (pictured) is reportedly considering separate bubbles in three separate time zones