Petco Park will see playoff action for the first time since 2006
Credit: SD Tourism
Major League Baseball announced its playoff scheduling Tuesday, and San Diego’s Petco Park will be a big part of it.
The 2020 @MLB Postseason will begin with the AL Wild Card Series on Tuesday, 9/29, while Game One of the 2020 World Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas will be played on Tuesday, 10/20. pic.twitter.com/KSzWMSAcBk
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) September 15, 2020
Petco Park is set to host at least two playoff series, with a probable third featuring the San Diego Padres.
For some time, it seemed like the entire playoffs will be played in bubbles, and the Padres will not get to play any playoff games at Petco Park in 2020, with the National League rumored to be played in Texas.
However, the MLB announced that the wild card round will be hosted by the top four seeds in each league. The wild card round this year will be a best-of-three series.
The rest of the National League playoffs will be played in Texas.
With this, the San Diego Padres will get to play at least two playoff games at Petco Park in 2020, as long as the Padres hold their lead over the Miami Marlins for the current four seed.
The last playoff game played at Petco Park came back in 2006 when the Padres faced the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS. The Padres lost both games at Petco Park that postseason.
The Padres are 0-3 in playoff games at Petco Park since moving there in 2004. The other loss came the year before in 2005, also to the Cardinals.
Official announcement. No off-days during wild-card round, Division Series and League Championship Series. Will be played straight through. pic.twitter.com/M1ViE3ZUEP
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) September 15, 2020
Not only can Petco Park host the wild card round, but Petco Park will host an ALDS series and the ALCS. The other ALDS series will be played at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
The ALDS series played at Petco Park will feature the winner of the wild card round between the 1/8 seeds and the 4/5 seeds. This will be a best-of-five series.
Following the completion of the ALDS, Petco Park will host the best-of-seven ALCS, featuring the two teams who won their respective ALDS.
The ALCS will be the last MLB games played at Petco Park in 2020, with the World Series being played at Globe Life Park in Texas.
Petco Park can potentially host 15 playoff games this postseason, with a minimum of seven if the San Diego Padres drop to the five seed and the ALDS and ALCS result in a sweep.
No matter how many games are played at Petco Park this postseason, the home of the Padres will get national attention. With probable overhead shots of the park and downtown San Diego throughout the games, positive light will be shed on the Padres and their hometown.
Dominic is a graduate of Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Journalism. He also is the producer and co-host of the “Padres EVT Podcast.”