MLB season is almost upon us, a look at which former Auburn Tigers are preparing for the 2022 season.
The NCAA has crowned its new men’s basketball team and college baseball is in full swing with conference play. That means it is baseball time in America when it comes to Major League Baseball.
There are plenty of former Auburn Tigers looking to take to the diamond in hopes of leading their team to the pennant and a shot at a World Series championship. One such player is former Auburn slugger [autotag]Josh Donaldson[/autotag]. He was recently dealt from the Minnesota Twins to the New York Yankees. Perhaps he can get a rin with the Bronx Bombers.
There are a total of seven former Tigers projected to be on opening day rosters as the season opens on Thursday.
Auburn Wire breaks down the group of Tigers in the pros.
Looking at rule changes for the shortened 2020 MLB season and the updated World Series betting odds.
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The 2020 MLB season is tentatively scheduled to begin Thursday, July 23, with the New York Yankees visiting the reigning World Series champion Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. If both clubs pitch their aces, the matchup would feature Gerrit Cole, who signed as a free-agent with the Yankees (record-breaking $324 million deal for nine years) and the Nationals’ Max Scherzer – they faced off last season in Game 1 of the World Series when Cole was with the Houston Astros.
The schedule for the abbreviated 60-game season won’t be finalized for a few weeks, but the Yankees and Nationals are expected to be part of a small lineup of games one day ahead of Opening Day for everyone else (Friday, July 24). Below, we’ll highlight key rules changes for the 2020 season, and look at the updated 2020 World Series futures odds at BetMGM.
2020 rule changes
Sixty-game regular-season schedule: 10 games against each division opponent, and a total of 20 games vs. the corresponding division in the other league (i.e. AL East vs. NL East) – though it’s unclear if it will be four games against each team or more weighted vs. the “geographic rival” (i.e. Yankees-New York Mets, Los Angeles Angels-Los Angeles Dodgers).
Rosters will be expanded to a total of 60 players with 30 on the active roster and an additional 30 on a taxi squad. After the first two weeks of the season, active rosters will drop to 28 players, and then to 26 players two weeks later through the end of the regular season. The trade deadline will be Aug. 31.
Both leagues will use the designated hitter.
In extra innings, teams will begin each half-inning with a runner on second base. The runner will be the batting team’s final out of the prior inning.
No scheduled doubleheaders.
Any game suspended at any point after the first pitch due to weather or COVID-19 reasons will be picked up at the point of the stoppage at a later date.
2020 MLB World Series betting odds
2020 World Series odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday, June 30 at 5 p.m. ET.
Los Angeles Dodgers +350 (was +375)
New York Yankees +350 (unchanged)
Houston Astros +800 (unchanged)
Atlanta Braves +1200 (was +1400)
Minnesota Twins +1600 (unchanged)
Tampa Bay Rays +2000 (unchanged)
Washington Nationals +2000 (was +1600)
Looking to place a bet on the 2020 World Series? Place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. Bet now!
Chicago Cubs +2500 (unchanged)
Chicago White Sox +2500 (was +3500)
Cincinnati Reds +2500 (was +3000)
Cleveland Indians +2500 (unchanged)
New York Mets +2500 (unchanged)
Oakland Athletics +2500 (unchanged)
Philadelphia Phillies +2500 (unchanged)
St. Louis Cardinals +2500 (unchanged)
Boston Red Sox +3500 (was +4000)
Los Angeles Angels +4000 (was +3500)
Milwaukee Brewers +4000 (unchanged)
Arizona Diamondbacks +5000 (unchanged)
San Diego Padres +5000 (unchanged)
Texas Rangers +8000 (unchanged)
Toronto Blue Jays +10000 (was +15000)
Pittsburgh Pirates +15000 (was +50000)
San Francisco Giants +15000 (was +50000)
Colorado Rockies +20000 (was +22000)
Kansas City Royals +50000 (unchanged)
Miami Marlins +50000 (unchanged)
Seattle Mariners +50000 (unchanged)
Baltimore Orioles +100000 (unchanged)
Detroit Tigers +100000 (was +50000)
Get some action on the 2020 World Series and 60-game MLB season by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
MLB plans to return with a 60-game 2020 season tentatively set for late July. We look at the details and updated World Series betting odds.
Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred scheduled a return to baseball for late July, several high-ranking officials told USA TODAY Sports Monday night. A 60-game regular season is tentatively set pending players union approval of the health and safety protocols.
Below, we’ll look at all the key dates and details, as well as the updated 2020 World Series betting odds at BetMGM.
New 2020 MLB schedule
“Spring” training 2.0 will start July 1. Teams will train at their home ballpark facilities, with the possible exception of the Toronto Blue Jays, who may need to use their spring training complex in Dunedin, Fla.
Opening Day is expected to be during the July 24-26 weekend.
What will the 2020 MLB game-play look like?
(Photo Credit: John David Mercer – USA TODAY Sports)
It is likely no fans will be permitted at games amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The postseason will remain at the 10-team format, including one play-in game in both leagues.
Regular-season games will adopt the minor-league rule for extra innings of beginning with a runner on second base for every half-inning after the ninth. The designated runner would be the player that made the final out of the previous half-inning.
2020 MLB World Series betting odds
2020 World Series odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday, June 23 at 4:30 p.m. ET.
New York Yankees +350 (unchanged)
Los Angeles Dodgers +375 (was +380)
Houston Astros +800 (was +700)
Atlanta Braves +1400 (was +1100)
Pro tip: New to sports betting? A $100 wager on the Yankees to win the World Series at +350 odds profits $350 if the Yankees do so. Place your legal sports wagers online in Colorado, Indiana, New Jersey and West Virginia at BetMGM.
Minnesota Twins +1600 (unchanged)
Washington Nationals +1600 (unchanged)
Tampa Bay Rays +2000 (unchanged)
Chicago Cubs +2500 (was +3000)
Cleveland Indians +2500 (was +3000)
New York Mets +2500 (unchanged)
Oakland Athletics +2500 (unchanged)
Philadelphia Phillies +2500 (unchanged)
St. Louis Cardinals +2500 (was +2000)
Cincinnati Reds +3000 (unchanged)
Chicago White Sox +3500 (unchanged)
Los Angeles Angels +3500 (unchanged)
Boston Red Sox +4000 (was +3500)
Milwaukee Brewers +4000 (was +3500)
Arizona Diamondbacks +5000 (unchanged)
San Diego Padres +5000 (unchanged)
Texas Rangers +8000 (unchanged)
Toronto Blue Jays +15000 (was +10000)
Colorado Rockies +22000 (was +30000)
Kansas City Royals +50000 (unchanged)
Miami Marlins +50000 (unchanged)
Pittsburgh Pirates +50000 (unchanged)
San Francisco Giants +50000 (unchanged)
Seattle Mariners +50000 (unchanged)
Baltimore Orioles +100000 (was +50000)
Detroit Tigers +100000 (was +50000)
Get some action on the 2020 World Series and 60-game MLB season by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
