Major League Baseball and the Players Association announced that as of Saturday, Aug. 1, all doubleheaders played during the 2020 regular season will be two seven-inning games as opposed to the normal nine innings.
With so much uncertainty due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic after the Miami Marlins already had their first outbreak, causing at least a week’s worth of games to be postponed, the league is expecting plenty of doubleheaders throughout the course of the remaining schedule.
MLB has also made it clear that not all teams will get to 60 games, so even though they are doing everything they can to make it an even playing field, the standings could ultimately come down to winning percentage.
In order to ensure players’ health and safety, both sides agreed that seven innings for doubleheaders is enough due to roster constrictions in place. All teams currently have 30 players on their active roster, although that will soon drop to 28 and then eventually 26 to finish out the season.
As it currently stands, the Marlins, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers have all had games postponed due to positive coronavirus tests, and may be more to come. MLB is being flexible with its schedule in order to try and get the season in, so it is not surprising to see them make more changes by shortening doubleheaders.
One other rule change that the league made for the 2020 season is that extra innings now start with a runner on second base. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ series finale against the Houston Astros required extra innings and despite the new rule in place, the teams still needed 13 innings to determine a winner.
If any doubleheader games require extra innings, the eighth inning will begin with a runner on second base as opposed to the 10th.
Concern with Cardinals
It was revealed late last week that the Cardinals had two players test positive for coronavirus, joining the Marlins as the only teams to yield significant positive tests so far that caused the postponement of games.
The Cardinals had their series against the Brewers postponed, and there is said to be growing concern over the total number of cases within the organization.
MLB commission Rob Manfred reportedly warned the MLBPA that if outbreaks were to continue, the season would need to be suspended and potentially cancelled. Though, Manfred later backtracked some and said he didn’t see reason to ‘quit’ the season.
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