Blue Jays to play home games in Buffalo, season begins Friday in Tampa Bay

The Toronto Blue Jays will be playing their home games in Buffalo this season, making the decision just before their 60-game season begins Friday night against the Rays in Tampa Bay.

The team confirmed the Jays will play at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, home of their triple-A affiliate.

President Mark Shapiro released a statement, saying, “The process has no doubt tested our team’s resilience, but our player’s and staff refuse to make excuses – we are determined to take the field on Opening Day today and for the coming months with the same intensity and competitiveness our fans expect.”

The Jays were denied approval to play at the Rogers Centre by the federal government over the frequent cross-border trips required during the season.

They had reportedly made a deal with Pittsburgh to play at PNC Park but the Pennsylvania Department of Health also wouldn’t allow them to play over public health concerns.

Top free agent pitcher Hyun-jin Ryu, who signed a four-year, $80 million deal with the Jays last year, will make his debut on the mound Friday night.

Toronto is scheduled to play its first home game on July 29 against defending champion Washington Nationals.

The team had also been considering playing home games at its training facility in Dunedin, Florida, but that is among the states that are coronavirus hot spots.

The MLB season was shortened from 162 games to 60 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Major League Baseball and the players’ union also agreed Thursday to expand the playoffs from 10 teams to 16 for the pandemic-delayed season, a decision that makes it likely teams with losing records will reach the post-season.