Major League Baseball plans to be back in one month.
On Tuesday evening, MLB announced the 2020 regular season will begin July 23 or 24. It will be 60 games. The announcement came after the Players Association signed off on the operating manual’s health and safety protocols earlier in the night.
Players will report to the second “spring” training by July 1, the agreed-upon report date. In a statement, MLB said it is “working with a variety of public health experts, infectious disease specialists and technology providers on a comprehensive approach that aims to facilitate a safe return.”
The 60-game schedule will include 40 games against divisional opponents and 20 against teams based in the other league’s equivalent division (an effort to lessen travel).
For the Braves, that means 10 games each against the Mets, Nationals, Phillies and Marlins. The rest of their schedule would include four games each against the Yankees, Rays, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Orioles.
While the league hasn’t confirmed, multiple reports have said there will be a trade deadline Aug. 31. There will also be a separate COVID-specific inactive list that will include players who test positive or show symptoms of COVID-19, according to ESPN.
The designated hitter will be in the National League after all, as it was part of the health protocols.
In MLB’s news release, commissioner Rob Manfred said the following:
"Major League Baseball is thrilled to announce that the 2020 season is on the horizon. We have provided the Players Association with a schedule to play 60 games and are excited to provide our great fans with Baseball again soon."
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