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The prior week in MLB was about a catcher in the National League opting out of the upcoming season, the league releasing the schedule for the 2020 season, and a team in the NL selecting their Opening Day starter.
San Francisco Giants Catcher Buster Posey opts Out of the 2020 Season Due to Family Concern
San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey has opted out of the 2020 season, per a team announcement.
OFFICIAL: Buster Posey has opted out of the 2020 season. #SFGiants pic.twitter.com/wd9VE9219l
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) July 10, 2020
Posey and his wife Kristen are adopting twin baby girls who were born prematurely and will remain in the NICU for some time, per Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic.
Buster Posey and his wife are adopting identical twin girls. That is why he has missed time in camp. The twins were born prematurely and stable but will be in NICU for some time. He is opting out of the season.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) July 10, 2020
Posey had been thinking about his options concerning the shorter season as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
He said a couple of days ago, the decision was not hard.
“This ultimately was not that difficult (of a) decision for me,” Posey said, per Hannah Keyser of Yahoo! Sports.
“This ultimately wasn't that difficult decision for me. From a baseball standpoint, it was a tough decision. From a family standpoint, and feeling like I’m making a decision to protect our children, I think it was relatively easy.”
— Hannah Keyser (@HannahRKeyser) July 10, 2020
“From a baseball standpoint, it was a tough decision.
From a family standpoint, and feeling like I’m making a decision to protect our children, I think it was relatively easy.”
Posey added if the babies were not born now, and if they had not been premature, he would probably be playing, says Keyser.
“If these babies hadn’t been born right now and weren’t premature, I’d probably be playing.” Posey says about how important it is for players to make decisions based on their personal situations.
— Hannah Keyser (@HannahRKeyser) July 10, 2020
Posey joins Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed pitcher David Price, Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, and other players who have opted out of the 2020 campaign.
Posey is under contract for 2021, as he is set to make $21.4 million.
He has a $22-million club option with a $3-million buyout for 2022.
Posey has been an integral part of the Giants since his first full season in 2010.
The catcher decided to ensure the safety of his family by opting out of the 2020 season.
MLB Releases Schedule for 2020 Season
Major League Baseball announced last week the schedule for the 2020 season.
A 60-game race to the postseason.
Full 2020 schedule: https://t.co/WoeTuwqV1d
(MLB x @CampingWorld) pic.twitter.com/FTA2FdHeBa
— MLB (@MLB) July 7, 2020
Dates to remember. 🗓️ pic.twitter.com/4iCN82Nuz7
— MLB (@MLB) July 7, 2020
The season begins July 23 as the Washington Nationals will host the New York Yankees at 7:08 p.m. ET.
That game will be followed by the Los Angeles Dodgers hosting the San Francisco Giants at 10:08 p.m. ET.
MLB's regular season begins on July 23rd with two great matchups. pic.twitter.com/jXH6OO8Doc
— MLB (@MLB) July 6, 2020
The remaining clubs will start their 2020 season the next day.
One interesting aspect of the season is seven teams (Atlanta Braves, Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, Colorado Rockies, Toronto Blue Jays, and Philadelphia Phillies) will play 20 games in 20 days.
The Braves, Mariners, and Tigers will play 20 straight games to begin the year, per Matt Kelly of MLB.com.
7 MLB teams will play 20 games in 20 days (max allowed in a row):
*Braves (July 24 – Aug 12)
*Mariners (July 24 – Aug 12)
*Tigers (July 24 – Aug 12)
Twins (Aug. 14 – Sept 2)
Rockies (Aug. 14 – Sept 2)
Blue Jays (Aug. 21 – Sept 9)
Phillies (Aug. 25 – Sept 13)*to start season
— Matt Kelly (@mattkellyMLB) July 7, 2020
Another aspect of the shortened season is the Miami Marlins will have an extremely tough year.
They will play 86.7% of their games (52 of 60) against teams that were .500 or better last season.
It’s the highest percentage of games vs. teams that had a .500 or better record from the prior season in the Divisional Era (since 1969).
The previous highest was the 1970 San Diego Padres at 85.2%, per Sarah Langs of MLB.com.
The Marlins will play 86.7% of their games (52 of 60) against teams that were .500 or better last season.
That’s the highest pct of games vs .500+ teams from the prior season in the Divisional Era (since 1969).
Previous highest: 1970 Padres, 85.2%
(h/t @EliasSports)
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) July 7, 2020
MLB has also announced the schedule for the 2021 season, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.
MLB has officially released its 2021 schedule, which is highlighted by a Yankees-Mets game at Citi Field on the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Here's the league's release: pic.twitter.com/qSXckbNR57
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 9, 2020
The 2021 season will have all 30 clubs play Opening Day on Thursday, April 1st.
A significant highlight of the 2021 schedule is the New York Yankees and New York Mets will play a series at Citi Field from September 10th-12th.
This will be the first time in which both New York teams play each other on September 11th.
The final day of the 2021 regular season will be Sunday, October 3, with 12 divisional games.
Los Angeles Dodgers Select Starting Pitcher Clayton Kershaw as Opening Day Starter
The Los Angeles Dodgers have selected starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw to make his ninth Opening Day start when the 2020 campaign begins, as manager Dave Roberts told Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times.
As expected, Roberts named Clayton Kershaw as the Dodgers' opening day starter.
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) July 7, 2020
Kershaw owns the club record for the most Opening Day starts, starting eight straight from 2011 to 2018.
The Dodgers are set to open the 2020 season with a home series against the San Francisco Giants on July 23.
Kershaw has posted a 2.44 ERA in 12 seasons with the Dodgers, including winning the National League Cy Young Award three times (2011, 2013, and 2014) and the NL MVP (2014).
The talented left-hander has been brilliant during his time with the Dodgers, and, logically, the club would select him as their Opening Day starter.
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- Chris is a New Jersey native whose favorite sports team is the Arizona Diamondbacks. He previously attended Western New England College to study Sports Management. Chris has been following the Diamondbacks since he was 12. You can find him on Twitter at @aecanada12.
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