Marty’s musings: where will the Nationals and Blue Jays play this season?

Welcome to ‘Marty’s Musings’, my weekly column of numbers summarizing the happenings in the baseball world. I am your guide for taking an analytic look at the news and notes throughout the game, and highlighting this week’s key pitching matchups.

After months’ of waiting for MLB to begin, we’re only a few days from Opening Day. Whether or not this half-hatched plan will provide us with a full season is another question entirely.

News & Notes

6 - New positive tests from the last week. The testing program has so far yielded 93 positive tests, amidst a surge in the virus in the US, particularly in the American south. Yasiel Puig looked to have finally landed a new home with the Braves, but the deal was called off once he tested positive for the virus.

11 - Umpires are opting out of the season. The umps join a small, but growing list of players including the Red Sox’ starter Collin McHugh and Astros reliever Joe Smith.

2 - Teams that have their home games up-in-the-air. The Canadian government denied the Blue Jays permission to host American teams and home games in Toronto. The Nationals meanwhile have to figure out a plan as well in order to comply with DC’s municipal requirements of a quarantine when someone knows they are exposed to the virus. Florida seems unlikely, since it’s the epicenter of the virus in the US

500 - Dollar donation to the Red Sox Foundation gets you a personal cut-out on the Green Monster, in what is basically a raffle. If a player hits your cutout with a home run, you win two 2021 tickets and a customized jersey.

3 - Days until Opening Day.