The 2020 MLB season is a series of tests — and the first big one comes today  —  Training camps around Major League Baseball officially open Friday, marking another step toward the game's return.  As momentous as that might sound, as positive as that might seem, Friday is a vital day to MLB for an entirely different reason.

After blowback, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred clarifies comments on 60-game season  —  While the Twitterverse thought MLB commissioner Rob Manfred accidentally confessed Wednesday on the Dan Patrick Show that it was always MLB's intention to play a 60-game season, Manfred clarified Thursday what he meant.

With pregnant wife, Angels star Mike Trout unsure if he'll play in 2020: ‘Playing it by ear’  —  Mike Trout, the Los Angeles Angels' three-time MVP and widely regarded as baseball's greatest player, is wary about starting the 2020 season with his wife expecting their first baby in August.

MLB cancels All-Star Game for first time since 1945  —  By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's  —  LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dodger Stadium's 40-year wait to host the All-Star Game is going to last even longer.  —  The game scheduled for July 14 was canceled Friday because of the coronavirus pandemic …

Welington Castillo Opts Out Of 2020 Season  —  Veteran catcher Welington Castillo has opted out of the 2020 season, Nationals manager Dave Martinez told reporters Friday (Twitter link via the Washington Post's Jesse Dougherty).  Castillo inked a minor league contract with the Nationals …

Prohibition baseball: Inside the biggest All-Star Game no one watched  —  Luke Jackson had nowhere to throw when baseball shut down.  So, the Atlanta Braves right-hander got desperate, watched some YouTube videos, and built a makeshift mound.  He was throwing alone in his driveway in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. when he got the fateful text.

MLB Player Pool Salary Will Give Some Minor Leaguers A Pay Bump  —  For minor leaguers, being named to the 60-man player pool will result in either a minor pay bump or a major one.  —  Players not on the 40-man roster who are part of the player pool working out at their team's alternate site …

Cubs' José Quintana undergoes thumb surgery, likely to miss start of season  —  By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's  —  Cubs starter José Quintana will likely start the season on the injured list and his status is in doubt after suffering a thumb injury at home.

As MLB teams report, let's count the ways the Red Sox will be worse in 2020  —  By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's  —  Red Sox reality check.  They were never, ever meant to contend in 2020.  —  This 60-game sprint will probably keep them from plummeting completely out of the playoff race, but let's not kid ourselves.

Braves hold first team workouts Friday  —  The Braves' season begins Friday when the team holds its first formal workout at Truist Park.  It comes 113 days after they played their last game, a 5-3 exhibition win over the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla.  —  Much has changed since …

Tim Kurkjian's Baseball Fix: Major League Baseball gave us plenty of reasons to despise it, but here are 100 reasons it's OK to still love it  —  The past three months, baseball has given us 1,000 reasons to hate it.  —  In the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, the players and owners …

Catching On: Athletics Offer Fans Chance to be Part of the Scene as Cardboard Cutouts  —  It's going to be possible to “catch” a foul ball at the Coliseum this year without actually being at the Coliseum.  —  Under current plans being dictated by the fight against the COVID-19 coronavirus …