MLB Releases 60-Game Schedule as Players Question Return

Things are not so rosy in the land of Major League Baseball right about now.

MLB released its 60-game schedule for all 30 clubs. Every schedule is rationalized based only on divisional match-ups and interleague against the opposite geographic division (i.e. AL East vs. NL East, et al).

However, many players and even teams are voicing deep concerns about proceeding with a season. Already Braves outfielder Nick Markakis opted not to play in 2020, joining a long list of players that includes Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman and Rockies' Ian Desmond. Markakis pointed to Freddie Freeman, who was diagnoised with COVID-19 as part of the impetus for him to not play this season.

On top of that Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant pointed out baseball's inconsistencies regarding testing, noting that players have shown up to camp who haven't been tested. MLB initially agreed to test every other day. Then there are the lack of results. The Phillies, Nationals and Athletics have had to cancel and postpone workouts because they didn't have the testing results on COVID-19 readily available. 

This is a huge problem. Add to the fact that COVID-19 took out an independent league baseball against the Milwuakee Milkmen and Chicago Dogs of the American Association, and you have the recipe for a disaster.

Will we have a season? Right now it doesn't look good.

If we do, the Yankees will open up the schedule July 23 at Washington against the defending World Series Champion Nationals in primetime. That game will be followed by the San Francisco Giants at the LA Dodgers.

The Mets will open the season July 24 at home against the Atlanta Braves at 4:10. Who knows what the Braves will look like by that time -- if play proceeds.

Check out the schedules here!