Jays know when they play — but not where

The Toronto Blue Jays have something new for all their fans not going to home games this summer.

In the 60-game schedule released on Monday, it was revealed that the starting time for weeknight and Saturday home games will shift a half-hour earlier to 6:37 p.m. Just where those home games will be played is another matter, as the team continues to lobby for federal government approval to be based at the Rogers Centre.

The season itself will begin on the road in St. Petersburg, Fla., where the Jays will take on their AL east rival Tampa Bay Rays on July 24, the first of a three-game series. After that they head to d.c. for a twogame set with the World Series champion Washington Nationals before both teams return to Toronto (or dunedin) for the Jays home opener on July 29.

As previously announced, the Jays will play 40 games against their AL east rivals and 20 against teams from the NL east as the league looks to reduce travel amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The breakdown of NL games includes six against the Philadelphia Phillies, four each vs. the Nats and Florida Marlins and a threepack against Mike Soroka’s Atlanta Braves and Marcus Stroman’s New york Mets.

The most gruelling run for the Jays begins on Aug. 21 when they play the first of 20 games in 20 consecutive days. According to the MLB Network, the front half of the schedule is no picnic either as

Toronto has the third toughest schedule through Aug. 6 facing teams who had a combined .567 record in 2019.

As for that yet-to-benamed home park, the Jays included a statement with the release of their schedule:

“While no final decision has been made open a site for Blue Jays regular season home games, the club’s preference remains Rogers Centre.”

The season opens on July 23 with a doubleheader tailored for ESPN as the Nationals face the yankees followed by the San Francisco Giants taking on the Los Angeles dodgers.