If the MLB season resumes with an 82-game regular season, it wants to make sure a World Series champion is crowned. USA Today reports the industry is concerned with a possible second coronavirus wave hitting this fall before a team lifts the trophy. For many clubs, the only way to salvage the season economically is by having a full postseason.
If there’s a regular season with empty stadiums, but no postseason without lucrative national TV money, losses would be about 150-million dollars for each team. MLB would prefer the postseason ends in early November at the latest, nixing any plans to play into December.
The Cincinnati Reds and all National League teams are preparing to use a full-time designated hitter this season. According to reports, the Major League Players Association is leaning towards approving use of the DH in both leagues for a proposed shortened 2020 MLB season. Players have long supported using the DH in the National League. First adopted by the American League in 1973, almost all levels of amateur and professional baseball use the DH except the National League.