MLB officially cancels regular season games

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MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said losing games due to the league-implemented lockout would be "disastrous."

That worst-case scenario has come to fruition.

Manfred announced Tuesday MLB has canceled the first two regular season series after the league's self-imposed deadline for a new labor agreement passed without a deal.

"The calendar dictates that we're not going to be able to play the first two series of the regular season," Manfred told reporters. "Those games are officially canceled."

The league made its final offer shortly before the 4 p.m. deadline — a proposal that had significant differences with the locked-out players' latest offer.

The cancelations cover March 31 (Opening Day) through April 7. The Cubs will lose five games — their opening three-game series in Cincinnati and their home-opening two-game set vs. the Cardinals.

The White Sox will lose their opening three-game series at home vs. the Twins and first road series, a three-game set at the Royals.

Whether the league cancels more games remains to be seen. MLB reportedly expressed a willingness to cancel the first month of games in a meeting with the union on Monday.

The union told reporters Tuesday they will push for lost games to be rescheduled. Both sides expressed they are prepared to resume negotiations.

The union is headed back to New York, meaning the earliest talks could resume is Thursday.

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