MLB Baseball Opens With Yankees, Dodgers Winning

In the first game, the Yankees beat the reigning World Series champion Washington Nationals 4-1, the victory coming after the game was called following a nearly two-hour rain delay in Washington that began in the top of the sixth inning.

In Los Angeles, the Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants 8-1. 

Dr. Fauci's Pitch Goes Wide

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease specialist who's become a trusted figure during the coronavirus pandemic, threw the ceremonial first pitch before the Nationals-Yankee game. The masked Fauci's throw went well wide of home plate.

Players, Mangers, Coaches Hold Black Ribbon

The players, managers and coaches of the Washington Nationals and the New York Yankees all kneeled together in support of Black Lives Matter before the start of their game Thursday night, and then stood for the National Anthem. They also held a long black ribbon while standing along the two foul lines.
In Los Angeles, the Dodgers and San Francisco Giants also held a black ribbon before their game. Some of the Giants kneeled during the National Anthem, including Manager Gabe Kapler, as did the Dodgers' new outfielder Mookie Betts.  

Playoffs To Expand To 10 Teams

Major League Baseball and the players' union agreed Thursday to expand the playoffs from 10 teams to 16 for the pandemic-shortened season.
Sixteen of the 30 teams will advance to a best-of-three first round: the first- and second-place teams in every division and the next two teams by winning percentage in each league.

Those winners move on to the best-of-five Division Series, where the usual format resumes.