Canada has denied the Toronto Blue Jays’ request to play at their home stadium, the Rogers Centre, because they’d have to travel back and forth to the U.S., where coronavirus cases are surging. The Blue Jays are now looking for a ballpark where they can play. Toronto players want it to be a major league ballpark, but among the places the Blue Jays have been considering are its Florida training facility, and the Buffalo, New York, stadium that’s home to its Triple-A affiliate. Reports are also saying they are considering some games at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.
Toronto is scheduled to play its first home game on July 29th. The other 29 MLB teams plan to play in their home ballparks, without fans. Meanwhile, MLB began playing exhibition games this weekend, with three games on Saturday and four Sunday. The shortened 60-game season will start on Thursday with two games.
The Pirates open their regular season in St. Louis Friday.
The Bucs lost back-up catcher Luke Maile, likely for the shortened season, after he was hit in the hand by a pitch during an intrasquad game last week, and had surgery on his index finger.
Former Pirate and Pine-Richland high school graduate Neil Walker has made the opening day roster of the Philadelphia Phillies. Walker played for Miami last year.