China Daily (Hong Kong)

In-flight entertainm­ent

-

Leicester City’s Demarai Gray (front) and Everton’s Lucas Digne contest a high ball during Wednesday’s English Premier League match at Goodison Park in Liverpool. Third-place Leicester’s alarming slump continued with a 2-1 defeat that gives another boost to the chasing pack in the hunt for Champions League qualificat­ion.

prohibited on the field, as well as in dugouts and clubhouses.

permitted to keep a moistened cloth in their pocket to wet the ball ahead of gripping it, instead of licking their fingers.

exchanged at home plate. Instead, managers must enter them into an MLB app.

be expanded, and all on-field personnel must adhere to physical dis

cannot socialize or come within six feet of members of the opposing team on the field or before or after the game.

their positions to argue with umpires, come within six feet of an umpire or opposing player or manager for the purpose of argument, or engage in altercatio­ns on the field are subject to immediate ejection and discipline, including fines and suspension­s,” the rule states.

A previously announced rule requiring all pitchers to face at least three batters except in case of injury remains in effect.

team forfeits the role of the designated hitter. And unlike other positions, the DH is “locked” into the batting order, so no multiple substituti­ons can be made to alter his rotation to the plate.

Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals will try to defend their World Series title without two veteran holdovers from last year’s team.

General manager Mike Rizzo said longtime first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and pitcher Joe Ross are opting out for the safety of themselves and their families in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are 100 percent supportive of their decision to not play this year,” Rizzo said on Monday. “We will miss their presence in the clubhouse and their contributi­ons on the field.”

Zimmerman was due to earn $740,741 and Ross $555,556 as prorated portions of their salaries, originally $2 million and $1.5 million respective­ly.

Only players deemed high risk are paid if they opt out of the shortened season.

“Everyone knows how much it means to me to be part of a team and I will miss that camaraderi­e dearly this year,” Zimmerman, the Nats’ longest-serving player, said in a statement.

“Of course I would love to pursue back-to-back titles. I cannot speak for anyone else, but given the unusual nature of the season, this is the best decision for me and my family.”

Zimmerman has been writing a

coronaviru­s shut down sports this spring. In the 10th installmen­t last week, he expressed concerns about playing this summer.

 ?? REUTERS ??
REUTERS

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from China