The Toronto Blue Jays are expected to play a majority of their house games at PNC Park in Pittsburgh this season after federal authorities in Canada refused to let them host games at the Rogers Centre, sources verified to ESPN.
A main statement is pending approval from the State of Pennsylvania, according to SportsNet, which first reported the news.
Canadas government denied heaven Jays request to play in Toronto due to the fact that the regular-season schedule would need frequent travel back and forth from the United States, where COVID-19 cases are rising. The other 29 significant league teams plan to play the pandemic-shortened, 60-game season in their home ballparks, without fans.
Toronto begins the season at Tampa Bay on Friday.
2 RelatedThe schedules for the Pirates and Blue Jays match up practically perfectly. Aside from July 29, they dont have a home game on the same date till Sept. 7. Heaven Jays are set up to host Washington– where they play their previous series– on July 29, but they in theory might remain in Washington to play their arranged two-game home series.
Heaven Jays play Sept. 1-2 in Miami and Sept. 3-6 in Boston. Instead of scheduled house games Sept. 7-9 against the Yankees– when Pittsburgh is at home– Toronto could go to New York and remain there for its arranged house series Sept. 11-13 versus the Mets. Road series versus the Yankees and Phillies follow, and with Pittsburgh at house Sept. 21-24, heaven Jays could play their next home series versus the Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
Baltimore likewise had been considered as a possible host site, outfielder Randal Grichuk said Tuesday, as had the teams Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, New York. Grichuk, nevertheless, stated the gamers wanted to play in a big league stadium.
The group had actually been thinking about playing home video games at its spring training facility in Dunedin, Florida, however Florida is amongst the states that are locations for the virus.
If it could be done safely amid the pandemic, pirates president Travis Williams validated the talks with the Blue Jays on Monday and sounded ready to welcome the club.
ESPNs Jeff Passan and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Blue Jays are set up to host Washington– where they play their previous series– on July 29, however they theoretically might remain in Washington to play their scheduled two-game home series.
Instead of arranged home games Sept. 7-9 versus the Yankees– when Pittsburgh is at home– Toronto could go to New York and stay there for its set up home series Sept. 11-13 against the Mets. Roadway series against the Yankees and Phillies follow, and with Pittsburgh at home Sept. 21-24, the Blue Jays could play their next home series against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
