Report: Champion Washington Nationals Hosting New York Yankees To Open 2020 MLB Season
Jun 27, 2020, 4:52 PM
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The reigning World Series champion Washington Nationals are set to open the 2020 MLB season by hosting the New York Yankees, according to the New York Post.
Major League Baseball has yet to release an official schedule for Opening Day or the rest of the season.
According to multiple reports, Washington will start its title defense by hosting New York at Nationals Park in late July.
Juan Soto hit 2 HRs in a game at Yankee Stadium. #ChildishBambino
P.S. He's 19. pic.twitter.com/ztbuqMrJ2N
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 18, 2018
News of the Yankees vs. Nationals matchup comes after the Major League Baseball Players Association agreed to an MLB proposal for a 60-game schedule.
In March, the MLB postponed the start of the season because of the coronavirus pandemic. After months of disagreements and failed proposals, the league and MLBPA came to an agreement in late June in order to start the season in July.
The 2020 season will run from July 23 or 24 until September 27.
On July 1, players and managers will report to training camp. The majority of the teams will hold their training camp at their home stadium.
The Nationals will host the Yankees on Opening Day in a matchup between last year's champion and this year's co-favorite.
The Nationals will be the first defending World Series champions to open their season against the Yankees since the 2005 Red Sox. pic.twitter.com/iFM89kFVBw
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 27, 2020
In 2019, the Yankees finished the regular season with a 103-59 record. New York advanced all the way to the American League Championship Series before falling to the AL champion Houston Astros in six games.
The Nationals finished the 2019 regular season with a 93-69 record. Washington caught fire in the postseason and reached the World Series after moving through the National League Wild Card, Divisional Series, and Championship Series with two playoff losses.
After jumping out to a 2-0 World Series lead against the Astros, the Nationals dropped three straight games and went back to Houston down 3-2.
Washington rebounded on the road and won Games 6 and 7 to win their first World Series.
