NEWSLETTER
We’re still waiting on the official release of schedules for MLB’s planned 60-game season this year, and that could come any day now.
We know that the schedule starts on July 23 or 24 (sounds like there will be two kick-off games on the 23rd, everyone else starts on the 24th), and we know that it will feature 40 games within your own division and 20 games against your same geographic counterpart division in the other league.
But one thing we haven’t known is if the games would be completely evenly distributed, or if MLB would try to preserve extra games against your interleague rival. In other words, are the Cubs going to face the White Sox only four times, or will they get three-and-three home-and-home series?
A couple reports suggest, yes, the natural interleague rivals will still face each other six times:
Told the interleague sked will work similar to 2018. So that yr, for example, #Yankees played #Mets 6 teams, played #Marlins and #Nationals 4 times each, and played #Phillies and #Braves 3 times each.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) June 24, 2020
So even with a 60-game schedule, the natural interleague rivals will still play one another six times apiece. #Yankees–#Mets; #WhiteSox–#Cubs; #Angels–#Dodgers; #Athletics–#SFGiants.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) June 24, 2020
If that comes to pass, then for those 20 AL Central games, the Cubs would face the White Sox six times, and then the other four clubs (Twins, Indians, Tigers, Royals) either four or three times apiece. Can I vote for the Royals and Tigers four times apiece, please?
Also, are the Cardinals and Royals considered sufficient rivals that the Cardinals are going to get those six games? In a short season, it matters. Dang.
In any case, if the Cubs do face the White Sox six times this year, it’s wild to think: that’s 10% of the season. In a normal, 162-game season, that’d be like the Cubs facing the White Sox 16 times – nearly as much as the Cubs face a division rival in a normal season (19). The team’s performance against the Sox could literally make or break their season. At least that’s … fun? Gotta win that Crosstown Cup this year, AMIRITE?!
