Reds' schedule has favorable opening stretch
CINCINNATI -- In the 2020 MLB regular-season schedule of 60 games, released on Monday, it was revealed that the Reds will host their Opening Day game on July 24, vs. the Tigers. First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. ET, and the game will be televised on MLB Network.
Cincinnati will play 40 of its games vs. National League Central rivals, 10 each against the Brewers, Cardinals, Cubs and Pirates. The breakdown of games vs. Milwaukee and St. Louis are three at home and seven on the road. Against Chicago and Pittsburgh, it is seven at home and three on the road.
• Here is the Reds' 2020 regular-season schedule
The remaining 20 games will be matched vs. American League Central teams -- Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, Minnesota and the Chicago White Sox.
"I think seeing the schedule makes it a little more real," Reds manager David Bell said. "We can all start to plan a little bit better, have an idea of what our life is going to be like and where we're going to be for the next several months."
Because of health and safety protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic, no fans are permitted to attend games.
The Reds will face the Tigers six times, more matchups than they have against any of the other four AL Central teams. The second time they meet the Tigers will be at Detroit, July 31-Aug. 2 -- meaning that six of the Reds’ first 10 games will be against the team that had the worst record (47-114) in baseball last season.
Based on 2019 records, the Reds have the easiest strength of schedule for the first two weeks of the season, with their opponents combining for a .437 winning percentage.
“We’re very hungry,” Reds reliever Amir Garrett said. “We’ve got a very good team. Hopefully we can showcase it this year.”
Other notable series include four games vs. the Cubs July 27-30, a four-game “home and home” battle vs. Cleveland Aug. 3-6, four games at St. Louis on Aug. 20-23 and the White Sox at home Sept. 18-20.
The regular season will conclude with a three-game series vs. the Twins from Sept. 25-27 at Target Field.
Through the first 60 games of the 2019 season, Cincinnati was in last place with a 28-32 record. Their best 60-game stretch was 31-29, and their worst was 26-34 on their way to a 75-87 record overall. Cincinnati’s best 60-game stretch was 47-13 in 1919.