LOS ANGELES (CNS) – The Los Angeles Dodgers will open the coronavirus-delayed season July 23 against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium, Major League Baseball announced.
   The scheduled 7:08 p.m. game — one of two to be played on that date — will follow a 4:08 p.m. interleague game between the defending World Series champion Washington Nationals and New York Yankees. Both games will be televised exclusively by ESPN.
   Government directives prohibiting large gatherings bar fans from attending games at Dodger Stadium at the start of the season. The Dodgers said in a statement they remain optimistic, and should circumstances change to allow fans at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers will announce a ticketing policy at that time.
   The Dodgers are providing ticketholders with an account credit for 2020 tickets, parking and All-Star Week events, which along with a 10% bonus credit that can be applied toward tickets and prepaid parking through the 2021 season. More information will be sent to ticketholders shortly, including instructions on how to request a refund.
   The Dodgers’ 60-game schedule includes four games against the Houston Astros — July 28-29 at Houston’s Minute Maid Park and Sept. 12-13 at Dodger Stadium — in a rematch of the 2017 World Series won by the Astros in seven games.

Padres to open season at home vs. Diamondbacks

SAN DIEGO  (CNS) – The San Diego Padres will open the coronavirus-delayed season July 24 against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park, Major League Baseball announced.
The Padres 60-game schedule consists of 40 games against National League West teams and 20 against American League West teams. The interleague games at Petco Park will be Aug. 19-20 against the Texas Rangers, Aug. 21-23, Houston Astros, Aug. 25-27 against the Seattle Mariners and Sept. 22-23 against the Los Angeles Angels, the final games of the season at Petco Park.
Major League Baseball plans to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day on Aug. 28, the date of the March on Washington in 1963, as well as the date in 1945 when Brooklyn Dodgers President Branch Rickey met with Robinson to discuss his future in MLB.
The new date is representative of both Robinson’s journey to break the color barrier and his life as a civil rights activist. Jackie Robinson Day is customarily celebrated on April 15, the anniversary of his breaking MLB’s color line in 1947.
The Padres will play the Colorado Rockies in Denver on Aug. 28.

Angels to open season at Oakland

   ANAHEIM (CNS) – The Los Angeles Angels will open the coronavirus-delayed season July 24 at Oakland with no fans present, but cutouts of them in seats at the Oakland Coliseum, Major League Baseball announced.
   Fans will not be permitted to attend games at the Coliseum this season in accordance with local health and safety guidelines. Fans will have the opportunity to grab a seat at the Coliseum through the team’s Coliseum Cutouts program.
   Cutouts are $89 each for general fans and $49 each for A’s Access members. Cutout to be placed in the “Foul Ball Zone,” which were priced at $129, are sold out.
   Every cutout will remain in the ballpark for the 2020 regular season. Fans will have the option to pick it up following the season.
   This will be the fourth consecutive year the Angels have begun a season in the Oakland Coliseum. The Angels would become the first team to start four consecutive seasons in the same road stadium.
   Following a four-game series in Oakland, the Angels will play their home opener July 28 against the Seattle Mariners at Angel Stadium.
   The Angels’ 60-game schedule consists of 40 games against American League West teams and 20 against National League West teams.  The Angels will play interleague games at Angel Stadium Aug. 14-16 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Aug. 17-18 against the San Francisco Giants, Sept. 2-3 against the San Diego Padres and Sept. 15-17 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.