Exhibition games in Washington, New York and Pittsburgh on Saturday gave Major League Baseball its first look at coronavirus-era games -- cardboard cutouts for fans, sound effects for crowds and more.
Still, for clubs limited to practices and intrasquads in their own ballparks for the past two weeks, Saturday stood as an important mile marker as the sport tries to start a shortened 60-game season next Thursday amid a pandemic.
Another new look -- the Mets became the first club to sell ad space on the field itself, spray painting a Ford logo on the back of the pitcher's mound. Scherzer is expected to throw the first pitch of the regular season when the Nats host new ace Gerrit Cole and the Yankees on Thursday night. The right-hander struggled in his final tuneup, also allowing a three-run shot to former teammate Bryce Harper.
The pregame routine looked familiar enough -- soaring batting practice homers from Giancarlo Stanton and Pete Alonso, ground ball work for Gleyber Torres and Robinson Cano. Reserve players watched from under large awnings build behind both dugouts. Mets backups gave a standing ovation to scheduled starter Rick Porcello as he returned from the bullpen, then started a chant of "Let's go, Mets!"
"I think it's a good experience for all of us," he said. "We're not used to getting on a bus and get your temperature taken and things like that, so it's good to go through that."
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