I haven't immersed myself in all the FAQ's and whatnot...but as to how the game will be played...a couple things have stood out to me...
They're going to use the DH rule in the National League. (AL already uses that. Though the universal DH for both 2020 and 2021 was part of a proposal rejected by the players, it remains a piece of the 2020 health and safety protocols. With an abbreviated "second Spring Training," an effort is being made not to overtax pitchers by having them hit. So for now, it is possible that the NL could return to its traditional rules with pitchers hitting again in 2021.
I don't like getting rid of that rule because it's a slope that might mean it's demise permanently at some point. I like it the way it is now because both sides of the issue get to have it their way.
They're also going to use a minor league rule for extra innings: With a tight schedule and a desire to limit time on the field, the Minor League rule for extra innings will be in effect. That means every half-inning after the ninth will begin with a runner on second base. The designated runner would be the player who made the final out in the prior half-inning (or a pinch-runner for that player), and the pitcher would not be charged with an earned run if that runner scores (it would be scored as if the runner had reached on an error). Please note that this rule is only in place for 2020 and only in effect for the regular season. Extra innings in the postseason would not begin with a runner on second.
That one isn't an issue because it's only for now.
There are two other rules that were to take effect this year, and one alteration, their status:
WILL NOT BE IN EFFECT THIS YEAR 1. Position players pitching: There was supposed to be a new restriction for 2020 that said position players could only pitch if the game was in extra innings or their team was ahead or trailing by more than six runs. There will be no such requirement for this season.
WILL BE IN EFFECT THIS YEAR 2. Three-batter minimum: This is an offseason rule change for 2020 that will remain. Relievers who enter the game must face at least three batters or finish an inning before being removed (with exceptions for injury or illness).
CHANGE FOR THIS YEAR 3. Suspended games: If a game gets cut short due to weather before it becomes official (less than five innings), it will be
continued at a later date instead, rather than started from scratch.
All that's just the start...who will be playing who and where they'll play and what happens if, are all in play. It's pretty meticulous so they've obviously been hard at work the last weeks trying to cover all the bases, so to speak.
Someone even wrote a what if article about the past decade:
What if recent MLB seasons had been 60 games?
https://www.mlb.com/news/recent-mlb-seasons-after-60-games
