ESPN to air quadruple-header for 2021 MLB Opening Day

It's far too early to say if fans will be allowed to attend 2021 MLB Opening Day games with COVID-19 cases spiking throughout the United States this fall, but those who choose to stay home on April 1 will have roughly 11 hours of live action to watch. 

ESPN confirmed that it will air a quadruple-header on Opening Day. 

The Toronto Blue Jays, who may once again have to temporarily relocate to Buffalo if the border that separates Canada and the United States remains closed because of the pandemic, will face the New York Yankees at 1 p.m. ET. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers, who toppled the Tampa Bay Rays to win the World Series, will begin their defense of the title versus the Colorado Rockies at 4 p.m. 

The New York Mets, playing under new owner Steve Cohen, will travel for a divisional game against the Washington Nationals that starts at 7 p.m. 

The network's day ends with a showdown between the Houston Astros and Oakland Athletics at 10 p.m.

ESPN will feature seven other games over the opening week of the campaign. 

Last week, reports emerged that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is working toward teams being able to welcome decreased percentages of paying spectators to ballparks for in-market games as early as April 1 pending future approvals from local health departments and governing bodies.