The Alaska Baseball League playoffs begin Friday with 6 p.m. games in Palmer and Chugiak.
The Mat-Su Miners -- who steamrolled their way through the regular season -- take on the Anchorage Bucs at Hermon Brothers Field in Palmer, and the Chugiak Chinooks face the Anchorage Glacier Pilots at Lee Jordan Field in Chugiak.
The games kick off the first round of the Top of the World playoffs. The winners of each best-of-3 series advance to the Top of the World Series beginning Monday.
The Miners ran way with the regular-season title with a 29-11 record. Winners of three straight Top of the World Series crowns from 2016-18, they’re eager to carry their regular-season dominance into the playoffs.
The Bucs, winners of the 2019 Top of the World Series, are the No. 4 seed with a 16-25 record. They secured the final playoff spot by edging out the Peninsula Oilers, who finished 14-26.
The series in Chugiak pits two teams separated by 1.5 games and 38 percentage points in the final standings. The Chinooks finished second at 21-18 (.539) and the Pilots were third at 20-20 (.500).
First-round games are Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m. at both ballparks. Sunday games are if-necessary.
The Top of the World Series runs Monday through Wednesday, with Wednesday’s game required only if the series is knotted 1-1. The higher seed will host.
Top of the World playoffs
First-round (best of 3)
Friday
6 p.m. -- Pilots at Chinooks, Lee Jordan Field, Chugiak
6 p.m. -- Bucs at Miners, Hermon Brothers Field, Palmer
Saturday
6 p.m. -- Pilots at Chinooks, Lee Jordan Field, Chugiak
6 p.m. -- Bucs at Miners, Hermon Brothers Field, Palmer
Sunday
4 p.m. -- Pilots at Chinooks, Lee Jordan Field, Chugiak (if necessary)
4 p.m. -- Bucs at Miners, Hermon Brothers Field, Palmer (if necessary)