CLEVELAND — After months of anticipation -- and negotiations -- the 2020 baseball season is finally here.
On Friday night, the Cleveland Indians will host the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field in what will mark their first game of a 2020 campaign that figures to be unlike any other in baseball history.
While fans won't be in the stands, festivities will be in full effect, with the Indians airing prerecorded renditions of the national anthem, God Bless America and tributes to coronavirus (COVID-19) and social justice efforts. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET and the game will air live on WKYC Channel 3, with a live blog of the contest available on WKYC.com.
Here's everything else you need to know about the Indians' 2020 season opener:
Game info, how to watch on TV, betting line:
Date: July 24, 2020
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Location: Progressive Field, Cleveland Ohio
TV channel: WKYC Channel 3
Radio: WTAM 1100, Cleveland Indians Radio Network
Betting line: Cleveland -235 (Cleveland -1.5 run line +155)
Over-under run total: 8.5
Tonight's starting lineups
Indians
- Cesar Hernandez - 2B
- Jose Ramirez - 3B
- Francisco Lindor - SS
- Carlos Santana - 1B
- Franmil Reyes - DH
- Jordan Luplow - RF
- Domingo Santana - LF
- Roberto Perez - C
- Oscar Mercado - CF
SP - Shane Bieber (RHP)
Royals
- Whit Merrifield - CF
- Adalberto Mondesi - SS
- Jorge Soler - DH
- Alex Gordon - LF
- Salvador Perez - C
- Maikel Franco - 3B
- Franchy Cordero - RF
- Franchy Cordero - 1B
- Nick Lopez - 2B
SP - Danny Duffy (LHP)
Key storyline
After missing the playoffs for the first time in four years, the Indians are looking to bounce back in a big way in 2020. And with the season having been shortened to just 60 games, they'll have limited time to do so, with the importance of each game now magnified in this sprint through September.
On Thursday, however, Cleveland received some good news when the MLB announced it had reached an agreement to expand its postseason to 16 teams this season. Nevertheless, the Indians will want to get off to a hot start, especially in games where the team's newly anointed ace, Shane Bieber, is on the mound.
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