NEWSLETTER
Today, MLB released its new schedule for the abbreviated, hoped-for 60-game 2020 season. It’s a mad dash, and if it happens safely, it’s going to be ridiculously fun.
As reported earlier, the Cubs open things up on July 24 at Wrigley Field against the Brewers, and now we see that they will wrap things up in late September against the White Sox on the South Side.
The Cubs actually get 7 of their 10 games against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field, and ditto the Brewers. It’s just the way the schedule played out (the Cubs, in turn, go on the road for 7 of 10 against the Reds and Pirates). With 10 games against each divisional opponent, it makes *some* sense to use traditional series lengths even as it leads to unbalance. But I can’t lie: this sure seems to favor the Cubs in a significant way, even when you account for the lack of fans. It still seems like a team will play better in its home park, sleeping in their own beds, etc. Heck, given the anxieties about travel this year, the home-field advantage might be even more significant this year.
As expected, the Cubs do face the White Sox six times as the interleague “rival,” and will face the rest of the AL Central thusly: Indians 4, Royals 4, Twins 3, Tigers 3. Three of those six games against the White Sox? They come at Guaranteed Rate in the final series of the season. That would be nuts if it was deciding two playoff races at once, eh?
The Cubs have off days generally at a reasonable clip, though two come in close succession during a home stand in September. I’m guessing that’s a scheduling quirk and/or a way for an easy make-up day if it’s necessary. Some of the off-days come in the middle of road trips or home stands, too, which is weird. Again, could just be a scheduling quirk or a way to preserve common make-up days, but it’s going to be odd for the players not to be able to spend off-days at home.
If the season happens, here’s how it’ll look (via NBC Sports Chicago and Cubs Insider):
7/24 – Brewers
7/25 – Brewers
7/26 – Brewers
7/27 – @ Reds
7/28 – @ Reds
7/29 – @ Reds
7/30 – @ Reds
7/31 – Pirates
8/1 – Pirates
8/2 – Pirates
8/3 – Royals
8/4 – Royals
8/5 – @ Royals
8/6 – @ Royals
8/7 – @ Cardinals
8/8 – @ Cardinals
8/9 – @ Cardinals
8/10 – OFF DAY
8/11 – @ Indians
8/12 – @ Indians
8/13 – Brewers
8/14 – Brewers
8/15 – Brewers
8/16 – Brewers
8/17 – Cardinals
8/18 – Cardinals
8/19 – Cardinals
8/20 – OFF DAY
8/21 – White Sox
8/22 – White Sox
8/23 – White Sox
8/24 – @ Tigers
8/25 – @ Tigers
8/26 – @ Tigers
8/27 – OFF DAY
8/28 – @ Reds
8/29 – @ Reds
8/30 – @ Reds
8/31 – OFF DAY
9/1 – @ Pirates
9/2 – @ Pirates
9/3 – @ Pirates
9/4 – Cardinals
9/5 – Cardinals
9/6 – Cardinals
9/7 – Cardinals
9/8 – Reds
9/9 – Reds
9/10 – Reds
9/11 – @ Brewers
9/12 – @ Brewers
9/13 – @ Brewers
9/14 – OFF DAY
9/15 – Indians
9/16 – Indians
9/17 – OFF DAY
9/18 – Twins
9/19 – Twins
9/20 – Twins
9/21 – @ Pirates
9/22 – @ Pirates
9/23 – @ Pirates
9/24 – @ Pirates
9/25 – @ White Sox
9/26 – @ White Sox
9/27 – @ White Sox
The game times are now up on the Cubs site, too.
The Cubs also just sent out a fun video on the schedule release:
The experts have put the final touches on our 2020 schedule. pic.twitter.com/e9xaU6LxF8
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 6, 2020
