MLB, MLBPA agree to seven-inning doubleheader games

The weird season that is 2020 just keeps getting weirder. On Friday, Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association announced that both games of doubleheaders will be seven innings over the remainder of the season. It will become effective tomorrow, August 1.

With so many games having been postponed through the first week of the season, and likely more that will follow, there will be a lot of doubleheaders required to try and ensure all 30 teams play a full 60-game schedule.

Here is the statement issued by the MLB:

“Given the frequency of doubleheaders, the effects of doubleheaders on rosters, and the need to reschedule games due to dynamic circumstances, both the clubs and the players have determined that this step promotes player health and safety.”

The MLB today called off the Brewers/Cardinals game after two Cardinals players tested positive for the coronavirus. Per ESPN, the postponed game has been rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on Sunday, with the first game to start at 2:10 p.m. ET. This will be the first doubleheader using the new seven-inning rule.

In the doubleheader format, should a game go to extra innings, a runner would start on second base to begin the top of the eighth inning.