Manfred optimistic MLB will play regular-season games in Europe

NEW YORK - Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred remains hopeful the sport can play regular-season games in Europe for the first time in 2019.

Major League Baseball had hoped to have European games in 2018, possibly between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox at London's Olympic Stadium, but decided there was not enough time to get plans in place.

'It's something we'd really like to do in 2019,'' Manfred said Thursday following a quarterly owners' meeting. ''I can't tell you we are going to do it. I can't give you a percentage, but we do think it's time, whether it's 2019 or shortly thereafter, that we play in Europe.''