Blue Jays opening 2021 season in Dunedin

The Toronto Blue Jays will play their first two homestands of the 2021 regular season at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, due to the continued Canada-U.S. border closure stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, the team announced Thursday.

The Blue Jays will play their home games at its spring ballpark through at least May 2, but the plan is to eventually return to Toronto this season.

"Next to the health and safety of our fans, players, and staff, our top priority is returning home to play on Canadian soil as soon as it is safe to do so," the team said in a statement. "The club has been actively working through plans for what a safe return to Rogers Centre could look like, while also scenario planning alternatives. The Blue Jays will re-evaluate the situation and those circumstances will dictate next steps following the first two homestands."

The Blue Jays will now host the Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees, Washington Nationals, and Atlanta Braves in Florida over the course of 12 total games. The team then embarks on a 10-game road trip before potentially returning to its regular home May 14 against the Philadelphia Phillies.

TD Ballpark will be open to fans at about 15% capacity, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.

The Blue Jays played the bulk of their 2020 home schedule at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, the home of their Triple-A affiliate, because of the pandemic.