5 Takeaways From The 2020 Chicago White Sox Schedule

CHICAGO — Major League Baseball is primed to be the first of the major team sports to return to regular season play during the coronavirus pandemic as all 30 teams are scheduled to begin a much shortened 60-game slate in late July.

For the Chicago White Sox, it is an opportunity to make the most of what's considered the fourth easiest schedule in the league.

Here are five takeaways from the first look at the revamped 2020 slate.

- 7 of 10 against the Twins are at home: If the White Sox are going to turn the corner with their rebuilding process after adding some top free agents in the off-season and compete for the American League Central division title, it could be a big plus to have seven of their 10 games against the defending AL Central division champion Minnesota Twins at home. The White Sox and Twins will open the season against each other on July 24 at Guaranteed Rate Field.

- They have a home game that's really on the road: The Sox were dealt a slight disadvantage in the schedule with the much anticipated "Field of Dreams" game on Aug. 13. It's counted as one of the team's 30 home games although played on a neutral site in Iowa. Iowa is also known to be home to quite a few more St. Louis Cardinals fans than White Sox supporters, and the Cardinals just happened to be the opponent for the game.

- Season ends with 3 vs. Cubs: With the extremely shortened season, it's even more likely that both Chicago teams could have a playoff berth on the line entering the final series of the regular season. What's better is that the teams will be facing off against each other for these final three games. The Cubs visit Guaranteed Rate Field from Sept. 25-27.

- Feast up! 1/3 of their games are against the Tigers and Royals: Much of the reason the White Sox have the fourth easiest schedule in baseball is the amount of games they play against division rivals Detroit and Kansas City, both of whom lost more than 100 games in 2019. The Sox play 20 games against the Tigers (47-114 in 2019) and Royals (59-103) combined, a third of their entire slate.

- Sweet Home Chicago: After their Aug. 13 tilt with the Cardinals, the South Siders won't have to leave the city for 18 days, effectively spending half the month of August at home. During that span, 11 home games sandwich a three-game series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.