As long as there are no more delays due to COVID-19, the Detroit Tigers will open their 2020 season on July 24 against the Cincinnati Reds. Major League Baseball released the revised 2020 schedules for the 30 teams on Monday night, with opening day set for Thursday, July 23.
The Tigers will play two exhibition games against the Reds, then three games during the last full weekend in July before heading home for a four-game series against the Kansas City Royals. Six of Detroit’s first 10 games are against the Reds, who signed former Tiger Nicholas Castellanos to a four-year contract this offseason after a 75-87 finish last year.
To limit travel and avoid over-crossing between teams, the Tigers’ full 60-game schedule will be played against teams from both core divisions. They have 10 games scheduled against each of their traditional division rivals, with a series or two of games against each National League club. This significantly reduces travel, giving core teams a clear advantage over teams on any coast.
The Tigers benefit more than anyone; No AL team will record fewer miles than the Tigers, who are slated to travel 4,615 miles on their 60-game schedule. In comparison, no AL West team will travel less than 10,000 miles this year.
Of course, the entire timeline depends on whether MLB can safely host games without exposing players, coaches, and other staff to the coronavirus. The first returns are not promising, and things could certainly change in the coming weeks as the season approaches. It certainly feels strange to celebrate the release of the calendar given the current circumstances, and I have a feeling something will change again in the next two weeks.
But for now? We are only 17 days away from the 2020 season, and three weeks from the opening of the new home.
