The Cleveland Indians won't start their 2020 season until July 24, but fans won't have to wait until then to see the team back in action.
On Monday, the Indians announced that they will play three exhibition games against the Pittsburgh Pirates, including two games in Pittsburgh (July 18 and July 22) and one in Cleveland (July 20). All three of the games will air on WTAM 1100 and the Cleveland Indians Radio Network, with the July 20 matchup in Cleveland also being televised on SportsTime Ohio.
The Indians' three-game series with the Pirates will mark Cleveland's first organized action against another team since the MLB delayed the start of its season in March due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. After months of negotiations with the league's players association, Major League Baseball set a 60-game schedule for the 2020 campaign, which is set to begin on July 24.
Rather than playing traditional schedules, teams will play 40 of their games against their own division, with the other 20 coming against cross-division opponents in the opposing league. For example, the Indians will play 40 games against the American League Central and 20 against the National League Central -- including six against Pittsburgh.
The Indians will begin their 2020 season on July 24 when they host the Kansas City Royals.