Why are Yankees and Astros randomly playing one game on June 30?

It’s June 30. The New York Yankees just finished up a series sweep of the Oakland Athletics and immediately hopped on a plane to head to Houston.

That’s right! Another series against the Astros. Oh wait … this one’s only … one game? Is that a thing now? Why is this what the Yankees have to do before traveling again to Cleveland for a weekend series against the Guardians?

There have been plenty of reasons to be upset with the 2022 MLB schedule. For example, the Yankees didn’t play on Memorial Day and won’t play on the Fourth of July, among other things. Is this even America anymore?!

But this one-game series against the Astros isn’t a mistake or some sort of scheme to disadvantage the best team in baseball. It’s a result of the MLB lockout. Thanks, Rob Manfred.

Initially, the Bombers were supposed to begin the 2022 campaign in Texas, with seven total games against the Rangers (4) and Astros (3). However, all of that got axed when the season began a week late.

Shortly after, MLB announced that no games would be lost as a result of the lockout, so those contests against the Rangers and Astros will be made up. You better believe it. And this one on June 30 is the first of six. It was squeezed into an original off day.

The Yankees and Astros are playing on June 30 because of the MLB lockout

Interestingly enough, both teams are traveling from New York after day games on Wednesday. The Astros remained in town after the weekend to face the Mets at Citi Field and swept the two-game series.

On Wednesday night, Luis Severino will take on Luis Garcia and we’ll find out who wins the battle of the first half between the two teams, who are 2-2 vs one another after this past weekend’s series.

So when will the other games get made up?

On July 21, right after the All-Star break, there will be a doubleheader between the Yankees and Astros in Houston (1:10 p.m. ET and 6:40 p.m. ET) before the Bombers head to Baltimore for a set with the Orioles.

As for the tilts with the Rangers, four of the seven games were added to the end of the season, which will be extended until Oct. 5. One will be played on the third, two on the fourth, and one on the fifth. Truth be told, a fairly simple fix. The Yankees were only disadvantaged with losing the June 30 off day and the July 21 off day. Worse things have happened.

Win today and it really won’t matter all.

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