In a curious move aimed at minimizing the potential for COVID-19 cases, Nippon Professional Baseball announced on Wednesday evening that extra-inning games will be limited to 10 innings this season.
NPB games are declared ties after 12 innings under normal protocol.
The 12-team league and the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association sought advice from an infectious disease expert before the new rule for this season, which gets underway next Friday, was implemented.
In related news, the NPB said on Monday that players and coaches would be subjected to coronavirus testing each month during the delayed 2020 season.
Umpires, coaches and players are undergoing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests before the season begins.
A panel of infection disease experts made the recommendations for testing.
Teams are scheduled to play 120 games in the abbreviated season instead of 143.
(RELATED STORY: Delayed NPB Season to start on June 19)
Author: Ed Odeven
Follow Ed on JAPAN Forward's [Japan Sports Notebook] here on Sundays, in [Odds and Evens] here during the week, and Twitter ＠itsjapanforward.
