Blue Jays to play 2020 season in Buffalo

After weeks of uncertainty, the Toronto Blue Jays will play most of their 2020 regular-season home games at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, the team announced Friday.

The ballpark normally hosts Toronto's Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons.

There are still lighting issues at the ballpark, which the Blue Jays are working to address, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

The club begins its regular season Friday in St. Petersburg, Florida, against the Tampa Bay Rays. Management will meet with Blue Jays players soon to inform them of the decision and get their approval, reports Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News.

The team also announced it will play home games against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park July 29-30, according to Sportsnet's Shi Davidi.

The Blue Jays looked into alternative sites for home games after the Canadian government denied their request to play at the Rogers Centre due to complications involving the coronavirus pandemic.

They investigated playing home games at PNC Park in Pittsburgh or Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

Pennsylvania health officials denied the team's request to play at PNC Park on Wednesday. Maryland health officials reportedly would not approve the Blue Jays playing in Baltimore either, according to Harrington.