Opening of MLB regular season to be pushed back to mid-May

WASHINGTON - Major League Baseball (MLB) announced on Monday that the start of the 2020 regular season will be pushed back even further following Sunday's recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC has urged a nationwide halt of any gatherings consisting of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The opening day of the MLB regular season, which was originally scheduled on March 26, had already been postponed for two weeks.

Commissioner Rob Manfred conducted a conference call on Monday with all 30 clubs, and announced that the opening day of the season "will be pushed back in accordance with that guidance" from the CDC.

Manfred reiterated that the league was taking a wait-and-see approach with regard to the season schedule.

"We're not going to announce an alternate opening day at this point," Manfred said. "We're going to have to see how things develop. I think the commitment of the clubs is to play as many baseball games in 2020 as we can, consistent with the safety of our players and our fans."

"MLB will keep fans updated on decisions regarding plans for the 2020 schedule in the days and weeks ahead. We will continue to monitor ongoing events and undertake the precautions and best practices recommended by public health experts, and urge all baseball fans to follow suit. MLB extends its best wishes to all the individuals and communities who have been impacted by the coronavirus," the commissioner's office said in a statement.