Wake up, it's Opening Day.
Sure, it may be late July and the United States is in a constant state of existential dread, but today is the day Major League Baseball — which shut down its spring training March 13 due to COVID-19 just two weeks before the season was set to commence — finally starts its season.
So how is this going to work?
The season will feature 60 games instead of the usual 162. Although MLB is not playing in a bubble like the NBA or NHL, the schedule is set up to reduce travel. Each team will play 10 games against each of the four teams in its own division, plus 20 total games against teams in the corresponding division in the other league.
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Players reported to a resumed Spring Training, dubbed Summer Camp, beginning July 1. All athletes had to test negative for COVID-19 before beginning workouts and will be tested every other day during the season. If a player tests positive, he will be required to test negative twice before being cleared to return.
All games will be played at the teams' home ballparks, except the Toronto Blue Jays, who were not approved to play in Toronto. Where they will play is still unclear.
A universal DH has also been implemented for this season only.
What are today's matchups?
Four teams open the season today — the other 26 will start Friday — but the matchups should both be good ones.
Yankees at Nationals. First, the reigning World Series champion Washington Nationals take on the New York Yankees, who lost in the ALCS. The two teams last met in 2018.
The Yankees are expected to start Gerrit Cole, while Max Scherzer is expected to take the mound for the Nationals. This will be Cole's first start with the Yankees after being signed as a free agent.
Cole is the most significant addition for either team, with both rosters remaining relatively stable in the offseason. However, the Nationals had three players opt out, including first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and pitcher Joe Ross. No Yankees players have opted out.
The Nationals also announced earlier this week that Dr. Anthony Fauci will throw out the first pitch at Nationals Park and DC mayor Muriel Bowser will say "Play ball."
Additionally, a "Black Lives Matter" stencil will appear on the mound and a heart with "D.C." on it will be displayed in center field.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:08 ET. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.
Giants at Dodgers. Is this the year for the Los Angeles Dodgers?
The Dodgers have been in the playoffs seven straight years, including four NLCS appearances and two World Series trips. Despite that, they still haven't won a World Series since 1988.
Now, nine months after being eliminated in the NLDS by the Nationals, the Dodgers open up the season against their archrival. They are expected to pitch Clayton Kershaw, while the Giants are expected to counter with Johnny Cueto.
Los Angeles had one of the splashiest offseasons in the league, trading for 2018 American League MVP Mookie Betts and veteran starter David Price — though the latter has opted out of the season, along with Giants catcher Buster Posey. The Dodgers also return 2019 National League MVP Cody Bellinger.
Though the Giants' offseason was relatively quiet in terms of player acquisitions, they have a new manager in Gabe Kapler, who has already made news by taking a knee with his players during an exhibition game.
The teams will face off at 10:08 ET on ESPN.
Sports video of the day
If all goes well for MLB, we're just three months away from the World Series. We can only hope that it will be as exciting as last year's, which went seven games and ended in the Nationals getting their first title in franchise history.
What we're reading
COLUMN: Baseball is going on, but should it? Gabe Lacques asks.
COLUMN: In a shortened MLB season, it's time to embrace the unconventional, writes Bob Nightengale.
KELLY LOEFFLER: The Atlanta Dream co-owner is intent on not selling her share of the team.
NFL: The league will require face masks for all fans in 2020 — if they're allowed in at all.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: New Mexico's governor asked its colleges to shut down football. Could more states be next?
(Other) sports on TV
MLS (live): The last three games of the MLS is Back Tournament's group stage are today. First, Chicago Fire vs. Vancouver Whitecaps at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN, then LA Galaxy vs. Houston Dynamo at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, then LAFC vs. Portland Timbers at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
PGA Tour (live): The 3M Open round 1 will be shown beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on the Golf Channel.
NASCAR (live): The Kansas Cup Series race will be shown at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
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