July 6, 2020
For the shortened 2020 season, the Padres 60-game schedule consists of 40 games against National League West teams and 20 against American League West teams. The Padres start by playing two exhibition games on July 20 against the Anaheim Angels at Petco Park and on July 22 at Angel Stadium before opening the MLB season on July 24 at Petco Park against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The interleague games at Petco Park will be Aug. 19-20 against the Texas Rangers, Aug. 21-23 against the Houston Astros, Aug. 25-27 against the Seattle Mariners and Sept. 22-23 against the Los Angeles Angels, which will be the final games of the season at Petco Park. Major League Baseball plans to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day on Aug. 28, the date of the March on Washington in 1963, as well as the date in 1945 when Brooklyn Dodgers President Branch Rickey met with Robinson to discuss his future in MLB. The new date is representative of both Robinson's journey to break the color barrier and his life as a civil rights activist. Jackie Robinson Day is customarily celebrated on April 15, the anniversary of his breaking MLB's color line in 1947. The Padres will play the Colorado Rockies in Denver on Aug. 28.
The looming question is will any fans be allowed in the stands during the 2020 season. Although initially there will be no tickets sold, the MLB’s Operations Manual leaves room for clubs to permit fan attendance at games with the approval of MLB and relevant local authorities. While teams in other states may be on different timelines for when to allow people to gather at largescale events like professional baseball games, California's Governor Gavin Newsom has said he doesn’t envision stadiums packed with fans until a vaccine is available.
It was announced last week that San Diego Padres outfielder Tommy Pham had tested positive for COVID-19. There were 38 positive tests, 31 among players and seven among staff members, in the first set of results conducted in the mandatory intake screening process under MLB's COVID-19 Health Monitoring & Testing Plan.
Under MLB's COVID-19 Health Monitoring & Testing Plan, a covered individual who tests positive for the coronavirus will not be allowed to travel (except as authorized by club medical staff and the Joint Committee), access any team facility, or have direct contact with any other covered individual or other club staff (other than medical staff) unless and until each of the following occurs: the individual tests negative on two separate confirmatory tests performed by the Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory taken at least 24 hours apart; the individual has been not feverish for at least 72 hours without the use of any fever suppressant, and any respiratory symptoms have improved, as confirmed and documented by his or her treating physician or club medical staff; the individual completes at least one antibody test following the positive diagnosis; at the discretion of the team physician, a cardiac evaluation is conducted in accordance with published standards; the individual's team physician, any treating physician caring for the covered individual, and the Joint Committee all conclude that the individual no longer presents a risk of infection to others and is healthy enough to return to his or her usual professional responsibilities, in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and any local regulations or requirements are satisfied.
For more information about the San Diego Padres and the 2020 season, visit mlb.com/padres.
