Blue Jays won’t be playing home games in Pittsburgh after all
By Scott Rogust
The Toronto Blue Jays’ temporary home is no longer an option
Entering the 2020 MLB season, no team is facing a bigger challenge than the Toronto Blue Jays.
This past weekend, the team was informed by the Canadian government that the team is prohibited from playing games at Rogers Centre in Toronto. After a few days to convene, the Blue Jays had struck an agreement with the Pittsburgh Pirates to share PNC Park. The problem was solved…for less than a day.
On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health announced that the Blue Jays won’t be permitted to play home games in the Steel City.
“In recent weeks, we have seen a significant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in southwestern Pennsylvania,” said Pennsylvania’s director of health Dr. Rachel Levine in a statement, via the Associated Press.
“To add travelers to this region for any reason, including for professional sports events, risks residents, visitors and members of both teams. We know that this virus does not discriminate, and can even make professional athletes very sick. We are committed to protecting the health and well-being of all Pennsylvanians.”
Blue Jays back to square one
The Blue Jays now have to go back to the drawing board, with Opening Day taking place this Friday.
There’s a potential of the team sharing Camden Yards with the Baltimore Orioles or Tropicana Field with the Tampa Bay Rays. There’s also the fallback option of the team using their Triple-A stadium in Buffalo, NY, but that’s less than ideal for the players who want to play in a park with major league amenities.
If no state heath department will permit the Blue Jays from obtaining temporary residence for the 60-game shortened season, they very well could play every contest on the road.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Blue Jays will be the designated “home team” in one of their series against the New York Yankees and Washington Nationals at Yankee Stadium and Nationals Park, respectively.
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Either way, the Blue Jays will need an official answer in regards to where they’ll play…and quick.