Following in the footsteps of the NBA and MLS, Major League Baseball moved to suspend all Spring Training games, effective 1 p.m. PT Thursday. Additionally, Opening Day of the 2020 season will be delayed at least two weeks, and World Baseball Classic qualifier games were postponed indefinitely as the world continues to grapple with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
MLB will continue to evaluate options leading up to the start of the 2020 season, and the league and its teams have been preparing contingency plans with respect to the schedule. The initial timeline suggests the earliest the season will begin is April 9.
From March 26 through April 8, the Dodgers had games scheduled against the San Francisco Giants (six), Colorado Rockies (three) and St. Louis Cardinals (three).
As the NBA was heading toward a reality of playing games without fans in attendance, the league was quickly forced to pivot when Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus. They suspended their season indefinitely and the MLS followed suit on Thursday.
Before MLB’s latest measure, they partnered with MLS, NBA and NHL on a joint statement earlier this week that outlined clubhouse and locker room access being limited to players and essential staff members.
“After consultation with infectious disease and public health experts, and given the issues that can be associated with close contact in pre- and post-game settings, all team locker rooms and clubhouses will be open only to players and essential employees of teams and team facilities until further notice,” it read.
“Media access will be maintained in designated locations outside of the locker room and clubhouse setting. These temporary changes will be effective beginning with [Tuesday’s] games and practices. We will continue to closely monitor this situation and take any further steps necessary to maintain a safe and welcoming environment.”
Among various measures taken across the country were several conference basketball tournaments being cancelled.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed banned all large gatherings (described as at least 1,000 people), including for Golden State Warriors games, for at least the next two weeks in effort to curb coronavirus spreading.
The Giants subsequently announced they would not play a March 24 exhibition game at Oracle Park against the Oakland Athletics. Before NBA suspended its season, the Warriors were slated to play Thursday without fans in attendance.
Washington Governor Jay Inslee restricted gatherings of more than 250 people in three counties, including where the Seattle Mariners play their home games. In a subsequent statement, the Mariners said they were consulting with MLB to develop alternative plans for games that were scheduled at T-Mobile Park.
After playing four innings against the Milwaukee Brewers, Justin Turner expressed hope MLB would manage to carry forward without being too impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.
Hours after his remarks, the California Department of Public Health suggested cancelling or postponing all gatherings of at least 250 people. That alone figured to have an impact on Opening Day at Dodger Stadium, which was set for March 26.
The Dodgers had split-squad games scheduled for Thursday but both were rained out prior to MLB’s announcement.
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