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Televised baseball is back at the Oakland Coliseum, after waiting four extra months for the sport due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The 2020 MLB season doesn’t get going for a few days yet, but in the meantime the A’s and Giants are playing two exhibition games Monday and Tuesday to finish warming up, one at each of their home parks. Those matchups will be aired on the teams’ respective NBC Sports affiliates (or watch on fuboTV with free trial), giving us our first chance in a long time to watch the green and gold in action.
It’s basically the annual Bay Bridge Series, just much later than usual, as they usually play three dates in late March. These games will look quite a bit different, though, with cardboard cutouts replacing the fans in the seats in the name of social distancing, and expanded dugouts that extend out into the stands under new tents so the players can spread out. Players also aren’t allowed to high-five each other, spit, or lick their fingers to get a grip on the ball. They’ll sound different too, with virtual crowd noise over the speakers.
In terms of pitching matchups, Sean Manaea will take the ball for Oakland on Monday at the Coliseum, against Kevin Gausman for San Francisco, though starters will likely only go a few innings. After an abbreviated preseason training camp, Oakland is only hoping for 75-80 pitches from most of their starters initially once the season begins, and perhaps even fewer in this final tuneup. On Tuesday at Oracle Park, Mike Fiers and Chris Bassitt will both pitch for the A’s at some point, while the Giants haven’t announced anyone yet.
Here’s how to watch and/or listen to both games.
Monday, July 20: Giants at A’s
- Time: 6:40 p.m. PT
- TV: NBC Sports California
- Streaming (watch): Watch online at fuboTV
- Streaming (listen): A’s Cast on TuneIn
- Pitchers: Sean Manaea (OAK) vs. Kevin Gausman (SF)
Tuesday, July 21: A’s at Giants
- Time: 6:45 p.m. PT
- TV: NBC Sports Bay Area
- Streaming (watch): Watch online at fuboTV
- Streaming (listen): A’s Cast on TuneIn
- Pitchers: Mike Fiers and Chris Bassitt (OAK) vs. TBD (SF)
After these exhibitions, Opening Day of the 60-game season will come later this week. The Giants open on Thursday, while the A’s and the rest of the league follow on Friday, July 24. Oakland will host the Angels at 7:10 p.m. that night, televised on ESPN. Click here for the A’s full 2020 schedule.
