Top News:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
MLB, players agree to expanded 2020 playoffs with 16 teams — CHICAGO — The Major League Baseball postseason will be expanded from 10 teams to 16 teams in 2020 once the owners officially ratify the deal before Thursday night's season-opener, according to three high-ranking officials with knowledge of the agreement.
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ESPN:
MLB players' union OKs playoff expansion for 2020, sources say — The Major League Baseball Players Association has agreed to a plan to expand the playoffs to 16 teams for the 2020 season, sources have told ESPN's Marly Rivera. — A playoff expansion still needs the final approval of MLB owners, sources said.
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
MLB Playoff Field Expands To 16 Teams For 2020 Season — 6:58pm: MLB has officially announced the 16-team playoff format and best-of-three Wild Card Series for 2020. — 4:36pm: The league's owners have ratified the agreement, Sherman tweets. Sixteen teams will make the playoffs this season.
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NBCSports.com, Let's Go Tribe, Purple Row, Halos Heaven, Red Reporter, Lone Star Ball and MLB Baseball News …
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
M.L.B. Expands Playoffs for 2020 Season — The new playoff format, which increases the postseason to 16 teams instead of 10, will help the league add broadcast revenue as it loses out on ticket sales. — Just as they began a season unlike any other, Major League Baseball …
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True Blue LA
Jesse Yomtov / USA Today:
MLB preseason power rankings: Yankees start 2020 season on top
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Royals Review, Twinkie Town and MLB Baseball News …
ESPN:
Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw (back) goes on IL; Dustin May to start vs. Giants — Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was put on the 10-day injured list because of stiffness in his back and will not make his scheduled start in Thursday's Opening Day game against the San Francisco Giants, the team announced.
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Dodgers Place Clayton Kershaw On Injured List, Recall Dustin May
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Stephanie Apstein / Sports Illustrated:
Boston's Blunder: How the Dodgers Landed Mookie Betts for the Next 13 Seasons
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Over the Monster, AZ Snake Pit, True Blue LA and MLB Baseball News …
Si Mlb / Sports Illustrated:
Watching MLB in 2020 Is Going to Be Weird — Watching baseball, like everything else in 2020, has a new normal. — Did you hear? Baseball is back. — It may not be what you dreamed of, but Thursday night's two games offered a window into what it will be like to be an MLB fan in 2020.
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Beyond the Box Score
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays put opening day focus on social justice issues — A post from the team Twitter account at 8 a.m. addresses Breonna Taylor's death. — ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays used the occasion of Friday's season opener to put a focus on social justice issues. — A post from the team Twitter account …
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MLB Baseball News … and DRaysBay
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
What you need to know about the Rays' season opener — Who is pitching, where to watch and listen, what's ahead — and what's different — about this opening day and season. — Tonight: vs. Blue Jays — 6:40, Tropicana Field — TV/radio: Fox Sports Sun; 95.3-FM, 96.1-FM (Spanish), 620-AM
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Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Phils' Andrew McCutchen unites with Yanks, Nats for pregame ceremony acknowledging injustice — WASHINGTON, D.C. — After he saw the video of a Minneapolis police officer killing George Floyd, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen felt compelled to do something.
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MLB Baseball News, Scores, Standings …:
Twins place Odorizzi on injured list with back soreness — By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's — Minnesota Twins set their opening day roster on Thursday, with right-hander — Jake Odorizzi on the 10-day injured list due to mild soreness in his upper back.
Michael Shapiro / Sports Illustrated:
Report: Juan Soto Tests Positive for COVID-19, Will Miss Opening Night vs. Yankees — The Nationals will host the Yankees in the 2020 season opener on Thursday night. — Nationals outfielder Juan Soto will miss the season opener against the Yankees on Thursday after testing positive for COVID-19, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.
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NBCSports.com, Yahoo! Sports, MLB Baseball News …, Lone Star Ball and Federal Baseball
Bill Baer / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Yankees-Nationals Opening Day game enters rain delay — By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's — Opening Day of the 2020 regular season was delayed four months. It is only fitting that the first game would also see a rain delay. Thursday night's Opening Day matchup between …
Discussion:
Los Angeles Dodgers News …, Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
