Baseball is back: Schedule, locations and how to watch MLB's return

gettyimages-1203848896 — Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels Bats during a spring training game against the San Diego Padres on February 27, 2020.
Photo by Masterpress / Getty Images

After this Corona virus The beginning of the baseball season was postponed and almost everything else was stopped. Baseball will finally return with a 60-game season commissioned by Commissioner Rob Manfred. Negotiations between the league and the MLB Players Association weren’t particularly pretty, with weeks of back and forth suggestions played in the media without finding a solution before a season was finally decided. Even now, a handful of players, including the Nationals’ Ryan Zimmerman, have announced that they may skip the shortened season and more may follow.

There is still a lot to sort before the first places are thrown, but here is everything we know about the much anticipated launch of the MLB.

When does the season continue?

The regular season begins on July 23 or 24. The Yankees will visit defending nationals on July 23 at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT to open the season. The San Francisco Giants will visit the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second game of the double header on the opening night at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN.

The rest of the league will start on a packed table on Friday, July 24, starting with the Atlanta Braves at the New York Mets at 4:10 p.m. ET / 1:10 p.m. PT.

CBS Sports has compiled some of the highlights and dates to look forward to this season.

When is spring training?

Players who registered for spring training on July 1 and teams are allowed to “invite 60 players to the Big League Camp, with only players entitled to play during the season,” according to MLB.com. Active rosters start with 30 players, before falling to 28 players after two weeks and 26 players after four weeks.

With the recent surge in cases in Florida and Arizona, the traditional spring training locations, teams will instead prepare for the season at their home stadiums.

Where are games played?

Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, will host Cubs games this year.

Photo by Timothy Hiatt / Getty Images

Spring training and the regular season take place in each of the 30 home cities of the 30 teams, with the possible exception of the Toronto Blue Jays, the only MLB team outside the United States. It is currently unclear whether the Blue Jays can play their 30 home games in Canada or move for the season, although a recent Toronto Sun report suggests the Jays can play in their home park.

All games, regardless of the city, are played without fans.

Which teams play against each other?

The subway series continues in the shortened season.

Photo by Rich Schultz / Getty Images

To keep the trip short, the teams play in the closest geographic areas. Therefore, you should mainly expect a game in the division, whereby the interleague is only limited to that of the other league (AL East vs. NL East, AL Central vs. NL Central, AL West vs. NL West).

Therefore, as CBS Sports noted in his example, the Nationals will only play against rival NL East teams, with interleague games against AL East teams. This means that the troubled Houston Astros may not be visiting the Yankees until the off-season, but those looking for the Stros who hit the garbage cans to get a little comeuppance can do a rematch on their games against the Dodgers the world 2017 series. The first matchup between the two teams will take place on July 28th and 29th in Houston.

Are there any changes to additional innings?

To ensure that the games don’t last too long, the extra inning game starts with a second place for the hit team, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. This would continue every half inning until there is a winner.

All extra inning games start with a runner on the second base, starting on the 10th.
– Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale), June 24, 2020

Is there a DH in the NL?

The position of the thrower in the stroke order becomes a designated hitter, with MLB introducing a universal DH for the 2020 season.

What about extended playoffs?

While there was talk of expansion, the playoffs for the 2020 season remain at 10 teams.

Who doesn’t play

Some players have already said that they will not be playing in the shortened season. Here are some of the current players who have announced that they will be sitting outside:

Mike Leake (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Joe Ross (Washington Nationals)
Ian Desmond (Colorado Rockies)
Ryan Zimmerman (Washington Nationals)
David Price (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?

Exact details on how to watch the games have not yet been released, although you can probably see them on your local regional sports networks such as local Fox Sports channels, the YES network (New York Yankees) and NESN (Boston) Red Sox) or SportsNet LA (Los Angeles Dodgers).

Regular MLB stations such as Fox, Fox Sports 1, TBS, MLB Network and ESPN will likely also be involved. However, details are still unknown.

MLB.TV, the MLB’s paid streaming service, will be available for streaming games outside of the market, with the league charging $ 60 for the entire shortened season.

Many of the national baseball channels are offered on five of the major live TV streaming services. However, you should check with everyone that your regional sports network is available.

To get all national baseball channels, you need Sling’s Blue / Orange package, which costs $ 45 a month, and the Sports Extra add-on for another $ 10 a month to get MLB Network receive. Read our Sling TV test.

YouTube TV costs $ 50 a month and includes all major national baseball channels. Depending on your team and your area, you may also have your regional sports network. Read our YouTube TV test.

Hulu with live TV costs $ 55 a month and includes most major national baseball channels, including ESPN, Fox, and TBS. While some areas may also receive regional sports networks, the service does not have an MLB network. Read our Hulu with live TV test.

AT&T TV Now’s Plus-Plus package for $ 55 a month includes ESPN, Fox, FS1 and TBS. However, you have to increase the maximum package of $ 80 a month for regional sports channels and possibly the selection of $ 110 a month if you also want MLB Network. Read our AT&T TV Now report.

FuboTV includes Fox, ESPN, FS1, and TBS in its standard plan of $ 55 a month, as well as some local regional sports networks, though those looking for MLB Network will need to look elsewhere. Note: ESPN is not currently available, but will be available sometime this “summer”. Read our FuboTV test.