What Could an MLB Season Look Like in 2020?

SI senior writer Tom Verducci shares some insight into some of the decisions the MLB must make for a 2020 season to happen

Tom Verducci | May 13, 2020

Back in 1981, after baseball was shut down by a two-month player strike, baseball began with the All-Star Game in August and followed that by picking up the schedule as originally drafted. Neither will be the case this time.

Baseball doesn't think it's wise to start with the All-Star Game because of concerns about health protocols; asking players and staff from all 30 teams to gather in one place and then return to their respective camps. As far as the schedule goes, that will be redrafted with a heavy emphasis on reducing travel.

That means regional rivalries. Imagine an opening day in which the Yankees are playing the Red Sox, the Cubs are playing the Cardinals, and the Dodgers are playing the Giants. Now, when the shutdown first happened and MLB kept up, some optimism that teams could maintain 162 game season.

Since then, they've reduced that number to around hundred. And now they're down to hoping for about 78 to 81 games. Now, if that's the case, that'll be the shortest season on record. Replacing 1981 when teams played at most 110 games.

Published May 13, 2020

TOM VERDUCCI

Tom Verducci is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated who has covered Major League Baseball since 1981. He also serves as an analyst for FOX Sports and the MLB Network; is a New York Times best-selling author; and cohosts The Book of Joe podcast with Joe Maddon. A five-time Emmy Award winner across three categories (studio analyst, reporter, short form writing) and nominated in a fourth (game analyst), he is a three-time National Sportswriter of the Year winner, two-time National Magazine Award finalist, and a Penn State Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient. Verducci is a member of the National Sports Media Hall of Fame, Baseball Writers Association of America (including past New York chapter chairman) and a Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 1993. He also is the only writer to be a game analyst for World Series telecasts. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, with whom he has two children.