Nats announce Fauci will throw first pitch at Thursday opener

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

July 20, 2020, 12:33pm

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BALTIMORE - The Nationals announced today that Dr. Anthony Fauci will throw out the ceremonial first pitch Thursday on opening night before the nationally televised game against the Yankees.

Fauci, the longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has been seen in public appearances wearing a Nats face mask during the coronavirus shutdown and is a noted Nats fan, attending about a dozen games in person each season and watching another 40-50 on television.

A team-issued statement said Fauci was "a true champion for our country during the COVID-19 pandemic and throughout his distinguished career, so it is only fitting that we honor him as we kick off the 2020 season and defend our World Series championship title."

The Yankees and Nationals are set for first pitch Thursday night at 7:08 p.m. from Nats Park in a game that will be televised live on ESPN. After a day off Friday, they will continue their series Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday's 7:15 p.m. game will be aired on FOX and Sunday's 1:05 p.m. series finale will be the first Nationals regular season game broadcast on MASN.