We are only one week into the Major League Baseball season, but there has already been some COVID related issues.

This past Monday, the Texas Rangers played their home opener, and were willing to fill all 40,300 seats at their brand-new ballpark for opening day. At press time, we don’t know what the exact attendance was, but the controversy began in March when the Rangers announced they would allow full capacity.

President Joe Biden, called the Rangers decision to allow full capacity “a mistake,” and stressed fans should still follow CDC guidelines when attending baseball games this season.

“Well, that’s a decision they made. I think it’s a mistake,” Biden said. “They should listen to Dr. [Anthony] Fauci, the scientists and the experts. But I think it’s not responsible.”

Technically the new Globe Life Field opened last year, during the shortened MLB season, however, fans were only allowed to attend games during the National League Championship Series and World Series, which were both held at the Rangers home in Arlington, Texas. Even at that, fans were allowed to attend in limited numbers at about 28% of the stadium’s capacity.

This season, all MLB teams are reopening the stadiums to fans, but with a limited number of tickets sold, to allow for social distancing in the stands. The exact percentage of capacity varies according to state and local government guidelines.

The Toronto Blue Jays, who last season played their home games at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, because of strict quarantine rules for anyone traveling into Canada, will play at least their first three homestands at their newly renovated spring training facility in Dunedin, Florida. Capacity will be limited to 15%, in a ballpark which seats 8,500.

Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro said in February that the team might move back to Buffalo, around June to avoid the heat and humidity in Florida. The hope is that the Blue Jays will then return to their home ballpark, Rogers Centre in Toronto, for the second half of the season.

The other pandemic related issue was the fact that the Washington Nationals had three players test positive for COVID-19, forcing the cancellation of their season opening three-game series with the N.Y. Mets.

The Nationals were set to play their home opener on Monday against the Atlanta Braves, but at press time Monday’s game was cancelled, and the three-games series was in jeopardy.

MLB PREDICTIONS

The 2020 World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers look poised to be the favorite to repeat this season. However, they may get a scare from their division rival, San Diego Padres, who have bolstered their already strong hitting corps with an improved pitching staff.

If any team can stop the Dodgers in the playoffs, it might be the Atlanta Braves.

In the American League, the hands down favorite is the N.Y. Yankees. The Yankees are stacked with both great hitters and great pitchers, especially with the addition of Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon. If Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton can remain healthy, it may be difficult to stop the Yankees.

The one team that has a chance to surprise the Bronx Bombers in the playoffs is the Chicago White Sox, under the direction of new manager Tony LaRussa.

I’m sticking with the Dodgers and Yankees to advance to the World Series, with the Yankees winning in seven games.