Half of MLB's 2015 playoff teams will open their 2016 season the day before "Opening Day," and fans will have even more ways to watch throughout the year.
Commissioner Rob Manfred announced Thursday a number of new wrinkles for next season, including an expanded slate of games on Sunday, April 3.
TOP FREE AGENTS: 25 best | C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF
Rather than just one Sunday night game as a lead-in to the regular Opening Day schedule Monday, MLB will present a Sunday tripleheader on ESPN capped by a World Series rematch. Baseball season will officially begin at 1 p.m. ET with the Cardinals facing the Pirates. The AL runner-up Blue Jays will the Rays three hours later, and the Mets and Royals will then resume where they left off in October in the showcase game at 8:35 p.m. ET.
That schedule allows MLB to maximize its impact on the day between Saturday's NCAA Final Four games and Monday night's national championship game. ESPN will follow up with four more nationally televised games Monday, the traditional day for openers.
The other big news Thursday was confirmation of reports from this summer that MLB has agreed to a three-year in-market streaming deal with Fox that will go into effect for the 2016 season. The 15 teams whose local rightsholders are Fox affiliates can offer an authenticated online stream to viewers who already subscribe to their regional sports networks.
Fox's MLB teams w local rights: ATL, CIN, CLE, TEX, DET, KC, LAA, MIA, MIL, MIN, NYY, AZ, SD, STL, TB
— Eric Fisher (@EricFisherSBJ) November 19, 2015
MORE FREE AGENCY: Each NL team's top target | Upton here? Upton here?
Manfred also said MLB will roll out new regulations next season for expanded netting at ballparks in an effort to protect fans from flying bats and balls, with more details to come in January.
Finally, Manfred confirmed earlier reports that the Pirates and Marlins will play regular-season games in Puerto Rico as part of a tribute to Roberto Clemente. The team will play two games of a scheduled four-game set in San Juan on May 30 and 31 before returning to Miami to close out the series the next two days.
