The Major League Baseball (MLB) has announced its condensed schedule for the 2020 season. Starting from July 23, MLB teams are set to play 60 games over a span of 66 days. The downsized regular season will conclude on September 27.
The delayed regular season’s initial game will showcase the New York Yankees playing against the 2019 World Series Champion, the Washington Nationals. The official “opening day” will present 14 games on July 24. Interestingly, only a single daytime game has been planned for the opening day.
The announcement for the playoff schedule has not been made yet.
2020 MLB opening day odds
Nevada sportsbooks have already posted betting odds for the first game of the year. Starting with their pitcher, Gerrit Cole, the Yankees are slightly favored on the moneyline to win against the Nationals and Max Scherzer, as shown at BetMGM.
- Moneyline: Washington Nationals are +115 underdogs against the -135 favored New York Yankees.
- The New York Yankees is at +135 on the runline against the Washington Nationals who are at -165.
- Total Run: 7.5 (under -120, over Even)
BetMGM recently published odds for the first night’s late game of the season which is between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Johnny Cueto will be pitching for the Giants against Clayton Kershaw.
- Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers are -300 favorites against San Francisco Giants who are at +240.
- San Francisco Giants have a runline of +115 against Los Angeles Dodgers who have a runline of -135.
- Total Run: 8 (under -120, over Even)
Bets on specific aspects of the game are not yet available.
The game between the Yankees and the Nationals boasts an impressive starting pitching matchup, although it could be somewhat exaggerated. Instead of spring training, summer camp is being utilized to prepare players for the season. With just three weeks of preparation before the season begins, it’s feasible that neither pitcher may have the endurance to last more than a few innings.
2020 MLB schedule
Typically, the MLB has a regular season comprising 162 games, succeeded by an extensive playoff schedule. However, the 2020 regular season features less than half the standard number of games. Consequently, this season will resemble more of a sprint compared to the usual elongated marathon of a normal season.
Furthermore, the usual schedule of teams playing against cross-country rivals has been modified to minimize travel. This year, most games will be played against the teams’ usual divisional opponents.
In addition to playing against regional rivals, teams will also engage in inter-divisional games. They will play against corresponding divisions from the opposite league. This year, the match-ups will be between NL East and AL East, NL Central and AL Central, as well as NL West and AL East.
This is an explanation of the new format for the 2020 MLB schedule:
40 divisional games (20 home, 20 road)
- Each opponent will play 10 games, divided over three series.
- Every one of these matchups will involve a team playing either seven home games and three away, or six home games and four away.
20 interleague games (10 home, 10 road)
- The team will play six games against their natural interleague rival, with three games at home and three games on the road.
- Playing four matches each against two opponents from the same division, two at home and two on the road.
- A three-game home series against a fourth opponent
- A three-game away series against a fifth opponent
All players, particularly pitchers, will find this altered schedule demanding. This year, seven teams are slated to play 20 games in 20 days. This gruelling schedule will be particularly tough on pitchers who will not have the advantage of additional rest.
2020 MLB futures odds
For all sports, this year has been unusual. The coronavirus pandemic has caused all major US sports to go on a break since the suspension of the National Basketball Association season on March 11.
This season introduces a new schedule along with new rules that might interest bettors. For the first time in over 45 years, both leagues will employ a designated hitter. Also, games going into extra innings will now start with a runner at second base, another first. Additionally, for the first time, pitchers will be required to face at least three batters in a season.
The futures odds from BetMGM are adjusted according to the modifications to the MLB schedule:
| Team | BetMGM Odds |
|---|---|
| LA Dodgers | +350 |
| NY Yankees | +350 |
| HOU Astros | +800 |
| ATL Braves | +1,200 |
| MIN Twins | +1,600 |
| TB Rays | +2,000 |
| WAS Nationals | +2,000 |
| CHI Cubs | +2,500 |
| CHI White Sox | +2,500 |
| CIN Reds | +2,500 |
| CLE Indians | +2,500 |
| NY Mets | +2,500 |
| OAK A’s | +2,500 |
| PHI Phillies | +2,500 |
| STL Cardinals | +2,500 |
| BOS Red Sox | +3,500 |
| LA Angels | +4,000 |
| MIL Brewers | +4,000 |
| AZ Diamondbacks | +5,000 |
| SD Padres | +5,000 |
| TEX Rangers | +8,000 |
| TOR Blue Jays | +10,000 |
| PIT Pirates | +15,000 |
| SF Giants | +15,000 |
| COL Rockies | +20,000 |
| KC Royals | +50,000 |
| MIA Marlins | +50,000 |
| SEA Mariners | +50,000 |
| BAL Orioles | +100,000 |
| DET Tigers | +100,000 |
At BetMGM, both the Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers are leading favorites to win the 2020 World Series, each with odds of +350 (3.5-1). The Houston Astros are not far behind with odds of +800 (8-1), while the Nationals sit mid-range with odds of +2000 (20-1).
More US sports coming soon
The MLB will be the inaugural major US professional sports league to return to action, despite not being the first to release a schedule. The NBA had already unveiled its schedule last week. The latter league’s regular season is set to recommence on July 14, concluding on August 14. The NBA Playoffs’ first round will kick-off on August 17.
The National Hockey League initially revealed its comeback plan in June. This week, an agreement was reached between the league and the NHL Players’ Association to commence the Stanley Cup Playoffs on August 1. The precise schedule is yet to be disclosed.
The National Football League still aims to kick off its full regular-season schedule in September as initially planned. Although professional football seems to be on track to start as scheduled, college football’s timeline is less certain. There’s a possibility that college football might be postponed until the 2021 calendar year.
Fasten your seatbelts, sports fans could be in for a roller coaster ride.
