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We must wait one more day for the full details of the Marlins’ 2020 regular season schedule, but the Phillies have been identified by Craig Mish as their first opponent:
The Miami Marlins will open up the 2020 Baseball season on the road - Friday July 24th taking on the Philadelphia Phillies, per sources. MLB releases the full schedule on Monday.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) July 5, 2020
The length of the series is unclear. It’s typical for MLB teams to play three-game sets on Fridays/Saturdays/Sundays, but perhaps the league will opt for longer series in 2020 to minimize the total number of flights in the midst of COVID-19.
The original schedule also had this matchup, though it would’ve been at Marlins Park on Mar. 26.
Assuming no setbacks (seems unwise to make any assumptions with the pandemic still affecting all parts of the country), this will end a nearly 10-month drought since the last meaningful Marlins game. That one was also in Philly, a 4-3 win for the Fish on Sept. 29, 2019. Miami’s starting pitcher back then? Right-hander Sandy Alcantara, who has the inside track at this assignment after reporting healthy to Summer Camp and impressing during live batting practice on Saturday.
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This is the first time that the Marlins will open a new regular season against the same opponent they saw at the end of the previous season since 2016/2017 (Nationals).
Expect the 2020 opener to be televised on FOX Sports Florida with the English radio broadcast on 940 WINZ. However, the local broadcasters will likely do their work remotely instead of traveling to Citizens Bank Park.