YOUR GUIDE FOR THE 2021 MLB SEASON

SportsBeat!

Written by Aaron Cantin

Can you smell that? Spring is in the air. Don't believe me? Spring Training begins this weekend. Spring Training has been and always will be the unofficial beginning of the second season. Although Opening Day is fast approaching, there are still many variables and unknowns heading into the 2021 season. Will there be fans? How many games will actually be played? If a team suffers a Covid outbreak, what happens? You're forgiven if you're not up-to-date with the latest rules in the MLB with all that is going on. In light of this, here are the key storylines heading into the 2021 MLB season.

Rawlings Baseball Gloves in front of the MLB Logo; Source: CBS Sports | Photo from McCoy/Getty Images

COVID GUIDELINES

Last year, the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic shut down Spring Training in mid-March and delayed Opening Day. Ultimately, the 2020 season did not begin until late July, and teams played a 60-game schedule. They then embarked upon an expanded postseason, with the field widened from 10 teams to 16.

Nearly a year later, the pandemic continues. Thankfully ongoing vaccinations, including many at Major League ballparks, are providing hope. However, COVID-19 will continue to affect the MLB schedule in 2021, especially throughout Spring Training and early in the regular season. That will extend to both fans (in terms of how many are allowed to attend games) and players (who once again will have to abide by health and safety protocols.

RULES

Unfortunately, the expanded postseason we all loved last year is not currently set to return in 2021. I say currently because there really are no givens anymore and the MLB, along with the MLBPA, are prepared to make changes on the fly.

• The universal Designated Hitter is also not currently in line to return this season, although the MLB and MLBPA could still change that prior to Opening Day.

• Two other rules that are intended to minimize the time spent at the ballpark will return in 2021.

• Doubleheaders will feature seven-inning games, and when any game goes to extra innings, a runner will be placed on second base to begin each half-inning.

• Rosters will revert back to 26 players, after expanding in 2020. There will not be a limit to how many pitchers can be on a team's roster.

• Clubs may bring a "Taxi Squad" of up to five players on all road trips, in order to have reinforcements available in the event of injuries or COVID-related issues.

REGULAR SEASON AND ALL-STAR GAME

The plan is to have a full 162 game MLB season. Unlike during the shortened 2020 campaign, clubs will not be limited to playing opponents from the same region (West, Central, East). It is still not clear nor official if fans will attend games during the regular season. While allowing fans in stadiums will be an evolving process, there is optimism about fans being able to enjoy games in person in 2021.

The 2021 All-Star Game remains scheduled for July 13th at Atlanta's Truist Park. For the first time, the MLB Draft will be a part of the weekend. The Braves had previously been chosen to host the 2020 All-Star Game, but that was canceled due to the pandemic.

POST-SEASON

The good stuff. Oddly enough, not much has been decided. The 2021 postseason schedule is not yet official. While the playoffs were expanded from 10 to 16 teams for 2020, that agreement was for one year only. The league and the players' union have not yet reached a new agreement regarding expanded playoffs for this year. If a deal is not made, the playoffs would revert to both the AL and NL fields featuring five teams and beginning with a win-or-go-home Wild Card Game. Let's hope the two sides come to their senses and give the fans what they want - more teams in the postseason.

There you have it. A rundown for the most unpredictable MLB season ever. How many of these rules will change by, say, July? Probably most of them. There are no guarantees this season. Everything may come to a halt at any moment. Let's just enjoy the ride while we can. Hopefully, we can enjoy it at the ballpark with a foot-long and an ice-cold one at some point this summer.