After the coronavirus postponed the beginning of the baseball season, and shut down practically all the things else, the game is set to return with a 60-game season mandated by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. Negotiations between the league and the MLB Gamers Affiliation have not been fairly, with weeks of back-and-forth proposals that performed out within the media with out reaching a decision earlier than a season was lastly imposed. Even now, a handful of gamers, together with the Washington Nationals’ Ryan Zimmerman, have introduced they’re sitting out the shortened season. Extra would possibly comply with.

There is nonetheless a lot to be sorted earlier than the primary pitches are thrown, however here is all the things we all know to this point in regards to the MLB’s eagerly awaited begin. 

When does the season resume? 

The common season will start Thursday, July 23 with a prime-time doubleheader. Within the first recreation the New York Yankees go to the defending champion Nationals, beginning at 7 p.m. ET (Four p.m. PT). The second recreation pits the San Francisco Giants towards the Los Angeles Dodgers at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT). Each video games might be broadcast on ESPN. 

The remainder of the league will start play on Friday, July 24 in a packed slate, beginning with the Atlanta Braves on the New York Mets at 4:10 p.m. ET (1:10 p.m. PT). 

CBS Sports activities has a breakdown on a number of the highlights and dates to look ahead to this season. 

When did spring coaching begin? 

Gamers reported to spring coaching on July 1 and groups might be “allowed to invite 60 gamers to large league camp, with solely these gamers eligible to play through the season,” in accordance to MLB.com. Energetic rosters will begin at 30 gamers earlier than dropping down to 28 gamers after two weeks and 26 gamers after 4 weeks. 

With the latest rise in circumstances in Florida and Arizona, the standard spring coaching locations, groups will as a substitute put together for the season of their house ballparks.  

The place will video games be performed? 

Spring coaching and the common season are set to happen in every of the 30 groups’ respective house cities, with the potential exception being the Toronto Blue Jays, the one MLB crew based mostly outdoors of the US. It is at present unclear if the Blue Jays might be ready to play their 30 house video games in Canada or if they’ll want to relocate for the season, although a latest Toronto Solar report suggests the Jays might be ready to play video games of their house park. 

All video games, no matter metropolis, are set to be performed with out followers. 

Which groups will play each other? 

To maintain journey down, groups will play these of their nearest geographical areas, so count on primarily in-division play with interleague restricted to simply these within the reverse league’s division (AL East versus NL East, AL Central versus NL Central, AL West versus NL West). 

So the Nationals, as CBS Sports activities notes in its instance, will solely play towards rival NL East groups with interleague video games coming towards AL East groups. This implies we cannot see the beleaguered Houston Astros visiting the Yankees till the postseason, probably, however these searching for the rubbish can-beating ‘Stros to get some comeuppance can look ahead to their video games towards the Dodgers in a rematch of the 2017 World Sequence. The primary matchup between the 2 groups might be in Houston on July 28 and 29. 

Are there modifications to additional innings? 

In a bid to guarantee video games do not go on for too lengthy, extra-inning play will begin with a runner on second for the batting crew, in accordance to USA At present’s Bob Nightengale. This could proceed each half-inning till there is a winner.

Is there a DH within the NL?

The pitcher’s spot within the batting order will change into a chosen hitter, with MLB adopting a common DH for the 2020 season. 

What about expanded playoffs? 

Whereas there was discuss of growth, playoffs for the 2020 season will stay at 10 groups. 

Who’s not enjoying? 

Numerous gamers have already mentioned they will not play within the shortened season. Listed here are a number of the present gamers who’ve introduced that they are going to be sitting out: 

• Mike Leake (Arizona Diamondbacks)
• Joe Ross (Washington Nationals)
• Ian Desmond (Colorado Rockies)
• Ryan Zimmerman (Washington Nationals)
• David Value (Los Angeles Dodgers) 
• Welington Castillo (Washington Nationals)
• Felix Hernandez (Atlanta Braves)
• Nick Markakis (Atlanta Braves)

How can I watch the 2020 MLB season on TV?

Past these opening couple video games on ESPN, actual particulars for how to watch the video games haven’t but been launched.

It is doubtless you may have the ability to watch in your native regional sports activities networks similar to native Fox Sports activities channels, the YES Community (New York Yankees), NESN (Boston Crimson Sox) or SportsNet LA (Los Angeles Dodgers). Common MLB broadcasters similar to Fox, Fox Sports activities 1, TBS, MLB Community and ESPN will even doubtless be concerned as properly. 

MLB.TV, the MLB’s paid streaming service, might be out there to stream out-of-market video games with the league charging $60 for all the, shortened season. 

Lots of the nationwide baseball channels are supplied on 5 of the main stay TV streaming companies, although you may need to verify with every to see in case your regional sports activities community is supplied.