MLB Season Could Start In July After Owners Approval Given
MLB owners have provisionally approved plans laid out by commissioner Rob Manfred that will be put before players early this week, ahead of a proposed July window for the new season to start.
Financial worries are certainly fuelling the need for a restart and owners will hope players, and player unions, agree the details of the next move forward. The 2020 season should have begun on March 26th but has been held back due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
There are a number of key portions in the proposal, but perhaps the most important are as follows.
- An expansion of playoff teams from 10 to 14
- An 82-game season
- The use of home stadiums in areas that have local and state government approval
- A so-called spring training 2.0 that begins in June, with a season set for early July
- A universal designated hitter
- Geographical schedules, in which teams play only in-division opponents and interleague opponents in a similar area (i.e., American League Central teams play AL Central and National League Central teams.)
- A 30-man roster with a taxi squad that would have upward of 50 players available
Perhaps the most contentious aspect relates to teams who do not have local and state approval to play in their home stadiums, which would then lead to that team moving to play their home games elsewhere.
When it comes to any MLB betting you may be considering, we’d still elect to back one of the favorites for the forthcoming season. BetOnline MLB betting odds has the Los Angeles Dodgers as favorites at +375, with the New York Yankees close behind at +450 to win the 2020 World Series.
