Barely four months have passed since the Washington Nationals completed a remarkable season by clinching a first ever World Series title, but action on the field has long been overshadowed by events off it.
Since a report from The Athletic in November lifted the lid on the sign-stealing scheme engineered by the Houston Astros, baseball has been consumed by the latest scandal to hit the sport.
Not even Gerrit Cole signing for the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox trading Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers could take the focus off the scandal surrounding Houston.
The report revealed the Astros had illegally used technology to decipher their opponents’ signs during the 2017 season—when the team won the World Series—and during the part of the following campaign.
The signs were then relayed to Houston batters in real time by banging on a garbage can.
As if the scandal wasn’t bad enough, the way MLB commissioner Rob Manfred handled the fallout has only served to fuel the ire of other teams and players.
The league fined the Astros a record $5 million and banned Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch—who were subsequently fired by the organization—but opted not to punish the players.
Manfred also chose against stripping Houston of its 2017 World Series title, suggesting he was mindful of creating a precedent.
The Boston Red Sox have also been drawn into the scandal, with the MLB still investigating whether the team illegally used video equipment to steal signs during the 2018 season, which culminated with them winning the World Series.
With this backdrop, the return of action on the field comes as a welcome relief for baseball. The Astros play their first spring training game when they take on the Washington Nationals Saturday evening in a rematch of the 2019 World Series, while the Red Sox face the Tampa Bay Rays earlier in the day.
Here’s a rundown of the spring training games broadcast on TV this weekend (SS denotes a split squad, which means a particular team may be playing two games against different opponents simultaneously.)
The first game of spring training is scheduled for Friday, February 21, when the Kansas City Royals host the Texas Rangers. Much like other games over the next two days, however, the matchup isn’t broadcast live on TV.
Similarly, none of the games that are available on TV will be broadcast nationally. All times are EST.
Saturday, February 22
New York Mets (SS) @ St. Louis Cardinals—1:05 p. m. , FOX Sports MidwestToronto Blue Jays @ New York Yankees—1:05 p. m. , YESBaltimore Orioles @ Atlanta Braves—1:05, FOX Sports SoutheastTampa Bay Rays @ Boston Red Sox—1:05 p. m. , NESNMiami Marlins @ New York Mets (SS)—1:10 p. m. , WPIXOakland Athletics @ Chicago Cubs—3:05 p. m. , Marquee Sports NetworkKansas City Royals @ Los Angeles Angels—3:05 p. m. , FOX Sports WestLos Angeles Dodgers @ San Francisco Giants—3:05 p. m. , SportsNET LAWashington Nationals @ Houston Astros—6:05 p. m. , MASN, MLB Network (out of market only)
Sunday, February 23
Detroit Tigers (SS) @ Pittsburgh Pirates (SS)—1:05 p. m. , ATT SportsNetDetroit Tigers (SS) @ Atlanta Braves—1:05 p. m. , FOX Sports SoutheastBoston Red Sox @ Baltimore Orioles—1:05 p. m. , NESN, MASNPittsburgh Pirates @ Philadelphia Phillies—1:05 p. m. , NBC Sports PennsylvaniaNew York Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays—1:05 p. m. , FOX Sports Sun, MLB Network (out of market only)Toronto Blue Jays @ Minnesota Twins—1:05 p. m. , SNET, FOX Sports NorthSt. Louis Cardinals @ New York Mets—1:10 p. m. , SNYChicago Cubs @ Los Angeles Dodgers—3:05 p. m. , Marquee Sports Network, SportsNET LAColorado Rockies @ Los Angeles Angels—3:10 p. m. , FOX Sports WestTexas Rangers @ Seattle Mariners—3:05 p. m. , ROOTNW