Elephant Rumblings: 2020 MLB postseason bracket set; which teams wouldn’t have made it in a normal year?

Finally, the Yankees and Astros catch a lucky break | Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images

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Good morning, Athletics Nation!

We’ve reached the 2020 MLB postseason. The Oakland A’s are in, as the No. 2 seed in the American League, and they’ll host all three games of their Wild Card Round opening series against the Chicago White Sox. The first two are Tuesday and Wednesday at noon local time.

We’ll talk more about A’s vs. White Sox as the day goes on (already started here), but there are seven other matchups happening this week. Here’s how the whole bracket shakes out, with the home teams listed first:

American League

• No. 1 Rays vs. No. 8 Blue Jays
• No. 2 A’s vs. No. 7 White Sox
• No. 3 Twins vs. No. 6 Astros
• No. 4 Indians vs. No. 5 Yankees

National League

• No. 1 Dodgers vs. No. 8 Brewers
• No. 2 Braves vs. No. 7 Reds
• No. 3 Cubs vs. No. 6 Marlins
• No. 4 Padres vs. No. 5 Cardinals

I’m no more a fan of expanded playoffs than anyone else, but I also can’t deny that laying out a bracket revs something in my sports-fan engine. Just this once, it’s going to be fun to make up for the four months we lost in the short 60-game season. (Even if I think this is probably going to become the norm sooner than later, unfortunately.)

On that note, it’s interesting to consider which teams wouldn’t have made it in a normal year. In the AL, the three division winners would have been safe, and then it would have been the two clubs who tied for second in the Central facing off in the old Wild Card Game — the Indians and White Sox. That would have left out the Yankees, who finished two games back of that pair, as well as the Astros, who would have been six games off the wild card pace. The Jays also would have been out.

In the NL, the Padres would have hosted ... somebody. The 31-29 Marlins? The 31-29 Reds? Or the 30-28 Cardinals, who would have needed to make up their final two games? A couple tiebreakers may have been required, and two teams would have been left out, along with the sub-.500 Brewers. Let’s just say the Cardinals would have won out, because c’mon, we all know they would have found a way.

So, the expanded postseason brought us the following teams: Yankees, Astros, Blue Jays, Marlins, Reds, Brewers. We could have been without two villains in NYY and HOU, especially since the Astros finished with a losing record. But it could be fun to see TOR, MIA, CIN, and MIL in there — four smaller-profile clubs, three of whom haven’t been relevant in a while.

For better or worse, this October is going to be different. Hopefully one of those changes will be the A’s shedding their old habits and instead winning some series.

A’s Coverage

• AN: A’s finish with No. 2 seed, will face Chicago White Sox in first round of playoffs
• Hickey: Kotsay Sees 2020 Athletics Having Same Kind of Brotherhood as the 2006 Club
• Gallegos: A’s have balanced formula for playoff run
• Gallegos: Hottest pitcher in MLB? Could be Bassitt
• AN: Tarp Catch: Jake Lamb is now officially an Oakland A’s third baseman
• AN: Comparing Sean Murphy to Johnny Bench might not be ridiculous at all
• News: A’s activate Chad Pinder from injured list
• Friday: Game #57: Walk-off magic returns, A’s win 3-1 in 10th inning
• Saturday #1: Game #58: A’s lose in extras for first time this year, 5-1 to Mariners
• Saturday #2: Game #59: A’s swamped by Mariners in 12-3 loss, doubleheader sweep
• Sunday: Game #60: A’s end season on strong note in 6-2 win over Mariners

MLB News & Interest

• Stephen: Angels fire general manager Billy Eppler
• Polishuk (roundup): Red Sox Won’t Retain Ron Roenicke For 2021 Season
• Bell: Bieber wins MLB pitching Triple Crown
• Feinsand: These 13 itching for redemption ... and glory
• Justice: Ranking every playoff team’s lineup, pitching
• Drellich: Q&A: Outgoing MiLB president Pat O’Conner on the state and future of the minors ($$$)
• Today in Baseball History

Yesterday’s Game Highlights

Friday: Win! Canha get a walk-off!

Saturday #1: Loss! But good pitching and defense from Minor in first half of doubleheader.

Saturday #2: Loss! Swept in the doubleheader. But Grossman homered twice, for the first time in his career!

Sunday: Win! To finish out the regular season on a strong note. Frankie looked great.

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495 feet!!!

Triple play!

Steee-rike!

Not baseball, but you’re about to see this clip in meme form a million times for the rest of your life because it’s perfect