Baltimore Orioles to Reschedule Games due to the Riots

Due to safety concerns, the Baltimore Orioles had to reschedule their Monday night game against the Chicago White Sox after riots broke out near Camden Yards. The riots, which got violent, started after Freddie Gray's funeral ended.

Rob Manfred, the Major League Baseball commissioner, stated that the game could be moved to Nationals Parks in Washington if public safety is still an issue.

"We talked late last night," Manfred said Tuesday. "I was on the phone with [Orioles owner Peter Angelos] after I got back to New York, and it just did not make sense last night to make a decision on today's game. The situation was so fluid, it was developing as we were talking. We decided it was most prudent to wait."

Manfred told ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike that they will decide on whether or not to move Tuesday's game on today.

The Orioles postponed last night's game roughly 40 minutes before game time. Nearly 1,000 fans were already at the stadium. Several of the gates were closed for safety measures.

"I think I can speak for all of us; it's a little scary," White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton said. "You never want anything to happen to anybody attending a baseball game, on the playing field or anybody in the city. We don't really want to tangle with that or put anybody in danger, so I think it's the best from everyone's perspective to cancel the game and hopefully the police officers and officials can get the situation under control."

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn added Monday night, "We completely understand this important decision to err on the side of caution and not play tonight. We're working with Major League Baseball and the Orioles to find the safest and most effective way to reschedule tonight and figure out what to do with the rest of the series."

During Monday night, rioters were throwing rocks and bricks at the Baltimore police just three miles away from the stadium. The city's mayor office revealed that there were 144 vehicle fires, 15 structure fires and about 200 arrests. The riots were related to 25-year-old Gray, who died on April 19 from a severe spinal injury while in police custody.

The arresting police officers stated that Gray was taken into custody without force. However, eyewitnesses claimed that the victim was dragged and beaten by the cops. Police commission Anthony Batts stated, in regards to the incident, that the officers "failed to get [Gray] medical attention in a timely manner multiple times."

The Baltimore police and officials have set a curfew that will run from 10 p.m. Tuesday night through to 5 a.m. Wednesday morning. If the game is not moved to a different location, it could start at an earlier time.

"At this point we're looking at every possible alternative in terms of completing the schedule in a timely way and making sure the games are played in a security situation that is safe for the fans," Manfred said Monday. "We're going to look at every alternative at this point."

There is currently no word on when the makeup date for Monday's game will be.