The 2020 Major League Baseball season has yet to begin because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, however MLB is beginning to formulate plans and a timeline for getting the season underway. According to reports, “the most realistic time range for Opening Day — somewhere between mid-June and July 4, in the view of most officials — would allow for an 80- to 100-game regular season, with the schedule running through October. An expanded postseason at neutral sites might follow, with the World Series ending in late November or early December.”
Obviously, any postseason that stretches into late November/early December is going to require the use of ballparks in warm-weather locales or at least with retractable roofs. With cold-weather, outdoor teams like the Yankees, Twins, Nationals, Cubs, Mets, Phillies, Indians and others plausibly aiming for contention, arranging for neutral sites in advance will be a necessity.
It was also recently reported that MLB is considering opening in three locations — Florida, Texas, and Arizona — with groups of teams in each location. However the hope is that eventually teams will be able to transition back to their usual home ballparks, as stay-at-home orders are lifted across the country. There is also no guarantee that fans will be permitted to attend any games, even late in the season.
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