Major League Baseball is ready to get the 2020 regular season underway. The league announced they have reached an agreement with the players to start a 60-game season on July 23 or 24. Players will report for training camp on July 1.
Rosters will start at 30 men for the first two weeks of the season and then drop down to 28 for two more weeks. After that, they will be reduced to 26 for the rest of the year. Teams will be able to have a taxi squad of 60 players who will be available to play if needed.
To reduce travel, teams will play most of their games against their divisional opponents. Teams will play ten games against each of their division rivals and then 20 games against interleague opponents.
When games resume, things will look a little different. The most significant change will be in the National League, which will now use the designated hitter. In extra innings, teams will start with a runner on second base.
The biggest hurdle to holding baseball games is the health and safety of the players. The league said that all players will be tested when they first arrive at their teams’ facility. They will not be cleared to begin working out until after they have tested negative.
Players, coaches, and support staff will all be tested every other day. Anybody who tests positive will be quarantined and must have two negative tests before returning. Players will also undergo temperature/symptom checks at least two times every day.