AL East Teams
AL Central Teams
AL West Teams
Archives
Recent Posts
- 2021 World Series Betting Picks, Predictions, Odds & Lines Atlanta Braves vs. Houston Astros Game 6
- The Ultimate Guide for 2021 World Series Game 3: Atlanta Braves vs. Houston Astros
- 2021 World Series: Atlanta Braves vs. Houston Astros Game 2 Picks, Predictions, Odds & Lines
- 2021 World Series: Atlanta Braves vs. Houston Astros Game 1 Picks, Predictions, Odds & Lines
- 2021 MLB Playoffs: Boston Red Sox vs. Houston Astros Game 6 Picks, Predictions, Odds & Lines
- MLB Playoffs: Atlanta Braves vs Los Angeles Dodgers Game 5 Picks, Predictions, Odds & Lines
- MLB Playoffs: Houston Astros vs Boston Red Sox Game 5 Picks, Predictions, Odds & Lines
The Toronto Blue Jays Suddenly Need A Place To Call Home
The ongoing coronavirus has disrupted just about every aspect of normal life. Back in March, it shut down three major US sports leagues. It also grounded just about every live sport and sporting event. While this whole ordeal is far from over, the 2020 MLB season is finally set to get underway. All 30 teams will get to play on their Opening Day game on Thursday, July 23 or Friday, July 24.
In a recent development out of Canada, the Toronto Blue Jays will be away from home the entire 60-game season. The Canadian government informed the team it would not be permitted to play in Toronto this year. This is due to continued health concerns tied to COVID-19.
Why Do The Toronto Blue Jays Need A Place To Call Home?
The Rogers Centre in Toronto was not a viable option due to frequent travel into the US. This was in light of the surging number of new infections in multiple states.
Looking at the Blue Jay’s early schedule, they will open the season on Friday at Tampa Bay. This will be the first game in a three-game weekend series. From there, they head to Washington DC. The first two games of a four-game head-to-head matchup were at Nationals Park. Toronto’s home opener was set for Wednesday, July 29.
Given that this is still a very fluid situation, finding a new home in the US remains up in the air. Early reports on ESPN signaled out Pittsburgh and Baltimore as possible alternatives.
“Where Will the Blue Jays Play Majority of Designated Home Games?”
The expert Oddsmakers at GTBETS online sportsbook have weighed in with their own prop bet odds. They are hedging these odds a bit with the exact wording “Where Will the Blue Jays Play Majority of Designated Home Games.
- Florida -160
- New York +250
- Pittsburgh +350
- Charlotte +500
Using Florida as a base does make sense given the team’s training facilities in Dunedin. The facility has been completely renovated. The overall size of the stadium is not a factor since fans will not be in attendance.
The team’s front office already mentioned Pittsburgh and Baltimore as possible alternatives. Yet, New York is the second-favorite on the betting board after Florida.
What Are The Odds That The Blue Jays Will Play Their Home Games In Buffalo New York?
Toronto has a Triple A affiliate team in Buffalo. However, that state has just tightened its restrictions on visitors from 31 other states. This is due to rising COVID-19 cases across the nation. Charlotte does not have a professional baseball team so a Triple A stadium in that state remains a possibility.
Ross Atkins is Toronto’s general manager. He mentioned that the team is looking into as many as five contingency plans. He declined to release any specifics on exact locations. He did conclude that Buffalo would be a likely landing spot in the absence of another MLB location. As mentioned, New York may have something to say about that.
The struggle to get the 2020 MLB season off the ground has been tougher than expected. Protecting the health and welfare of players and other team personnel is the main priority. The current situation with Toronto is an added hurdle to clear.
