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Major League Baseball Delays Opening Day Again, to at Least May

Major League Baseball Delays Opening Day Again, to at Least May

(Bloomberg) -- Major League Baseball has pushed back its opening day for the second time in a week, reacting to new recommendations from the federal government in the effort to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Following a conference call with all 30 teams, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said Monday that the baseball season would be delayed until at least mid-May. It’s a direct response to new recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which said on Sunday that events with more than 50 people should be avoided for the next eight weeks.

Last week, MLB canceled the rest of spring training and pushed its opening day back at least two weeks. The season was originally supposed to start on March 26.

Manfred said teams “remain committed to playing as many games as possible when the season begins.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Eben Novy-Williams in New York at enovywilliam@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Nick Turner at nturner7@bloomberg.net, John J. Edwards III, Anne Cronin

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