Houston Astros Schedule (When are they Playing?)

Major League Baseball Returning to Minute Maid Park in Late July

By Tex.Org Contributor Alyson Seeger

Houston Astros Schedule (When are they Playing) is tentative due to new health and safety protocols in place. Major League Baseball is moving forward with a shortened season in 2020. Each team will play 60 games over just 66 days instead of their typical 162. There will not be an MLB All-Star Game this year. A few players league-wide have chosen not to play this season for health and safety reasons. Astros reliever Joe Smith is expected to be one of them.

Due to COVID-19, spring training was canceled back in March. Players reported for what they’ve dubbed “Summer Camp” or “Spring Training 2.0” on July 1. The Astros will play two split squad exhibition games at the Kansas City Royals on July 20 and 21.

The Houston Astros will kick off their regular 2020 season on Friday, July 24 facing the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park. This is part of a six game homestand with four games against the Mariners and two against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In addition to the Mariners and the Dodgers, the ‘Stros will be facing off against the Los Angeles Angels, Arizona Diamondbacks, Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres, and the Texas Rangers.

Many MLB fans weren’t sure if they’d even get to see their favorite teams play at all this year. They will, but only from the comfort of their own homes, at least to start. Both the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, and the president of the Astros, Jim Crane, hope to see fans at the ballpark at some point this season. Most likely, attendance would be capped at 50%, which is around 20,000 fans at Minute Maid Park.

In the meantime, cardboard cutouts of fans will be placed around the stadium. For a $100 donation to the Astros Foundation, fans can submit a photo of themselves to be in the stands during home games. More information on requirements and how to submit can be found here: https://www.mlb.com/astros/fans/cutouts.

As part of the new safety precautions, players and staff must take COVID-19 tests every other day starting with Summer Camp through the postseason. They’ll also have their temperatures checked at least twice a day along with daily symptom checks. Those with temperatures of 100.4 degrees or higher will not be permitted to enter the stadium. If their COVID-19 test is positive, they will be quarantined. Players and staff cannot return until they take two negative tests at least 24 hours apart and get a doctor to sign off on their return. A separate injured list with no minimum or maximum number of days will be in place for players with positive COVID-19 tests, symptoms, or exposures to confirmed cases.

While this new protocol is for the safety of all involved, it has resulted in some players not yet reporting for Summer Camp, missing workouts, or being placed on the injured list without explanation. The Astros have had to delay or even cancel workouts due to possible exposure. Some players across the league, including ‘Stros outfielder George Springer, were not permitted to attend workouts because of a hold up in getting their test results back.

The MLB is also implementing other safety precautions this season, including the following:

  • Players can chew gum but no spitting or chewing tobacco is allowed.
  • Players cannot make physical contact via high fives, fist bumps, hugs, and the like.
  • Masks will be worn in the dugout and bullpen at all times by those who are not playing.
  • Players who are not likely to play in that day’s game will be in the stands at least six feet apart.

These are some of the rules the MLB will adapt during this season:

  • The active roster will consist of 30 players for the first two weeks of the season, then 28 for the next two weeks, then 26 through the end of the season.
  • Teams will be allowed to have three taxi-squad players travel on the road with them, as long as one is a catcher.
  • Position players are allowed as relief pitchers at any time. Originally, this was only supposed to be allowed in specific situations this season.
  • In the case of rain, any games that stop prior to the fifth inning will be suspended and picked up where they were stopped instead of starting at the top of the first inning at a later date.
  • Games that go into extra innings will start with a runner on second base.
  • The pitchers injured list will still be 10 days (it was supposed to switch to 15 days this season).
  • The Trade Deadline is August 31, and the deadline for the postseason active roster is September 15.
  • Playoffs are still scheduled to begin in October.

The Astros’ full 60-game schedule is below. All times are in Central Daylight Time (CDT) and subject to change. Games will air on ATT SportsNet-SW unless otherwise noted.

July 2020

  • Monday, July 20 (Summer Camp) at Kansas City Royals at 7:05 p.m. (Radio: KBME 790 AM/94.5 FM HD-2, La Ranchera 101.7 FM/850 AM)
  • Tuesday, July 21 (Summer Camp) at Kansas City Royals at 1:05 p.m. (TV: MLBN; Radio: KBME 790 AM/94.5 FM HD-2)
  • Friday, July 24 (Astros Home Opener) vs. Seattle Mariners at 8:10 p.m.
  • Saturday, July 25 vs. Seattle Mariners at 3:10 p.m.
  • Sunday, July 26 vs. Seattle Mariners at 1:10 p.m.
  • Monday, July 27 vs. Seattle Mariners at 6:10 p.m.
  • Tuesday, July 28 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers at 8:10 p.m. (FS1, ATT SportsNet-SW)
  • Wednesday, July 29 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers at 6:10 p.m.
  • Friday, July 31 at Los Angeles Angels at 8:10 p.m. (SportsNet-SW+)

August 2020

  • Saturday, August 1 at Los Angeles Angels at 6:07 p.m. (FOX, ATT SportsNet-SW)
  • Sunday, August 2 at Los Angeles Angels at 3:10 p.m. (ATT SportsNet-SW+)
  • Tuesday, August 4 at Arizona Diamondbacks at 8:10 p.m. (Station TBD)
  • Wednesday, August 5 at Arizona Diamondbacks at 8:10 p.m.
  • Thursday, August 6 at Arizona Diamondbacks at 6:07 p.m. (FOX)
  • Friday, August 7 at Oakland Athletics at 8:10 p.m.
  • Saturday, August 8 at Oakland Athletics at 3:10 p.m.
  • Sunday, August 9 at Oakland Athletics at 3:10 p.m.
  • Monday, August 10 vs. San Francisco Giants at 8:10 p.m.
  • Tuesday, August 11 vs. San Francisco Giants at 8:10 p.m.
  • Wednesday, August 12 vs. San Francisco Giants at 6:10 p.m. (ATT SportsNet-SW+)
  • Friday, August 14 vs. Seattle Mariners at 8:10 p.m.
  • Saturday, August 15 vs. Seattle Mariners at 6:10 p.m.
  • Sunday, August 16 vs. Seattle Mariners at 1:10 p.m.
  • Monday, August 17 vs. Colorado Rockies at 8:10 p.m.
  • Tuesday, August 18 vs. Colorado Rockies at 2:10 p.m.
  • Wednesday, August 19 at Colorado Rockies at 7:40 p.m.
  • Thursday, August 20 at Colorado Rockies at 2:10 p.m.
  • Friday, August 21 at San Diego Padres at 8:10 p.m.
  • Saturday, August 22 at San Diego Padres at 8:10 p.m.
  • Sunday, August 23 at San Diego Padres at 3:10 p.m.
  • Monday, August 24 vs. Los Angeles Angels at 8:10 p.m.
  • Tuesday, August 25 vs. Los Angeles Angels at 8:10 p.m.
  • Wednesday, August 26 vs. Los Angeles Angels at 8:10 p.m.
  • Thursday, August 27 vs. Los Angeles Angels at 2:10 p.m.
  • Friday, August 28 vs. Oakland Athletics at 8:10 p.m. (Jackie Robinson Day)
  • Saturday, August 29 vs. Oakland Athletics at 6:10 p.m.
  • Sunday, August 30 vs. Oakland Athletics at 1:10 p.m.

September 2020

  • Tuesday, September 1 vs. Texas Rangers at 7:10 p.m.
  • Wednesday, September 2 vs. Texas Rangers at 7:10 p.m.
  • Thursday, September 3 vs. Texas Rangers at 1:10 p.m.
  • Friday, September 4 at Los Angeles Angels at 8:10 p.m.
  • Saturday, September 5 at Los Angeles Angels at 8:10 p.m.
  • Sunday, September 6 at Los Angeles Angels at 3:10 p.m.
  • Monday, September 7 at Oakland Athletics at 8:10 p.m.
  • Tuesday, September 8 at Oakland Athletics at 8:10 p.m.
  • Wednesday, September 9 at Oakland Athletics at 8:10 p.m. (Roberto Clemente Day)
  • Thursday, September 10 at Oakland Athletics at 2:40 p.m.
  • Saturday, September 12 at Los Angeles Dodgers at 7:07 p.m. (FOX)
  • Sunday, September 13 at Los Angeles Dodgers – Time TBD
  • Tuesday, September 15 vs. Texas Rangers at 7:10 p.m.
  • Wednesday, September 16 vs. Texas Rangers at 7:10 p.m.
  • Thursday, September 17 vs. Texas Rangers at 6:10 p.m.
  • Friday, September 18 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks at 7:10 p.m.
  • Saturday, September 19 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks at 6:10 p.m.
  • Sunday, September 20 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks at 1:10 p.m.
  • Monday, September 21 at Seattle Mariners at 8:10 p.m.
  • Tuesday, September 22 at Seattle Mariners at 8:10 p.m.
  • Wednesday, September 23 at Seattle Mariners at 5:40 p.m.
  • Thursday, September 24 at Texas Rangers at 7:05 p.m.
  • Friday, September 25 at Texas Rangers at 7:05 p.m.
  • Saturday, September 26 at Texas Rangers at 6:05 p.m.
  • Sunday, September 27 at Texas Rangers at 2:05 p.m.