The Biden administration wants Major League Baseball's owners and players to step up to the plate and play ball.

White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre urged MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association to reach a new labor agreement "as soon as they can" Wednesday after an impasse in collective bargaining talks forced the cancellation of games scheduled for the first week of the 2022 season.

"We encourage Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association to stay at the bargaining table and reach an agreement as soon as they can so we can kick off the season and get back to enjoying baseball games," Jean-Pierre told reporters traveling on board Air Force One.

"The best role for government is to encourage the parties to commit themselves fully to collective bargaining that reaches an agreement," Jean-Pierre added.

The Biden administration asked the MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association to reach a labor agreement as soon as possible after the dispute caused Opening Day to be canceled.
The Biden administration asked MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association to reach a labor agreement as soon as possible.
EPA/ERIK S. LESSER
White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre encouraged the two sides to reach and agreement so that people can "get back to enjoying baseball games."
White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre encouraged the two sides to reach an agreement so people can "get back to enjoying baseball games."
AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

Tuesday's announcement by Commissioner Rob Manfred meant that regular season games would be scrapped due to a labor dispute for the first time in 27 years.

The deadlock threatens to further worsen the bitter national mood caused by two years of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, as well as inflation reaching a 40-year high.

Baseball players are pushing for a higher "luxury tax," which has functioned as a de facto payroll cap for several owners in recent years. The union wants the tax amount set at $245 million per team beginning this season. MLB negotiators want the tax to be set lower.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that games would have to be canceled for the first time in 27 years due to the dispute.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that games would have to be canceled for the first time in 27 years due to the dispute.
AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
A MLB fan calling for the season to be saved outside of Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida on February 28, 2022.
An MLB fan calls for the season to be saved outside Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida, on February 28, 2022.
AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

As a result of the cancellations, the earliest the 2022 MLB season can begin is April 7.