Blue Jays: The big questions for this team in a 60 game season

How does this work exactly?

The details of Tuesday’s agreement are still being made public, and it sounds like it’s going to be a creative season of baseball.

As we’ve heard in the past, there will be a new division structure that means the Blue Jays and the AL East will amalgamate with the NL East. According to details from the Associated Press yesterday, it sounds like each team will play 10 games against their own division rivals, and five against the teams from the other league. For the Blue Jays that means 10 games each against the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, and Orioles, and five each against the Washington Nationals, Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and Miami Marlins.

It sounds like the number of post-season teams won’t be changing and will stay at 10, but there are some other tweaks for this season including a Universal DH, and starting a runner on base during extra innings. The size of the roster will be a little different as well, as it sounds like teams will be able to carry 30 players to start the season, and will gradually reduce the number to 26. There will also be expanded taxi squads and eligible players on the roster, as the league needs to prepare for the possibility that players could contract the illness and need time away to recover, and keep others safe.

I think we’ll have to accept that the situation could be fluid, even if and when play resumes. All we really know for now is that the plan is to re-start spring training on July 1, and that the regular season schedule should get underway on July 23 or 24. There’s an agreement in place for now, but don’t be surprised if there are still changes yet to come, especially before that first pitch is thrown next month.