WASHINGTON – The Nationals and Atlanta Braves were still waiting Sunday afternoon to find out if Major League Baseball would allow the next series to continue as scheduled, while Washington is dealing with a coronavirus outbreak that could prevent the participation of 11 players.
Four national players have tested positive for COVID-19 over the past week and are isolated, while a total of seven others are now in quarantine because follow-up contacts determined they may have been exposed to the disease.
General Manager Mike Rizzo said none of those 11, most, though not all, were supposed to be on the first-day roster, would not be available if the three-game game with Atlanta begins Monday. Rizzo has not publicly identified any of the players involved or the two staff members who have also been quarantined due to a possible exposure.
Washington hasn’t played any games this season yet; his first three-game series against the New York Mets on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday was postponed.
“Believe me, we’re in constant contact with MLB. As soon as a decision is made, they’ll let us know. They’ve already gone through it. They know exactly what to do and when we have to do it to prepare for a game on Monday. “Rizzo said in a video call with reporters Sunday.
“We’re getting ready – and we’ve got ready – to play on Monday,” he said.
Team training has not been allowed since the outbreak began, which Rizzo says should happen before Washington faces an opponent, but the pitchers were able to go one-on-one to National Park on Saturday and Sunday for do bullpen sessions.
“Position players haven’t worked in a week. And pitchers haven’t pitched any competitive pitches in that same period of time. It’s something we’re taking very seriously here. We’re thinking of creative ways under protocol and under the guide these guys to be as prepared as possible, ”Rizzo said.
“It makes a lot of sense for baseball, when it comes to protecting players, for these guys to go through their steps in a full workout before they go out on the field,” he added.
The reigning NL East Braves champion is 0-3, and has managed to score a total of three runs for the Philadelphia Phillies.
And while Atlanta didn’t know for sure, starting 24 hours before Monday’s first scheduled launch in Washington, when it would be the next game, Braves catcher Travis D’Arnaud said, “I know we have to be ready to play. It’s better to be ready to play than to be surprised. “
Braves manager Brian Snitker said he would assume his club would play on Monday until you know otherwise.
“This is the COVID era. Everything is fluid,” Snitker said. “If you receive a call tomorrow at 10 o’clock [postponing the game], it won’t surprise me. I don’t expect it, but it could happen. “
Rizzo said all of his team’s coronavirus tests have continued to be negative, apart from the four players who are isolated.
And he said these four “feel much, much better,” adding that the symptoms that appeared earlier have diminished.
It is now up to the MLB to find out when the nationals can start their season.
“We want to do everything we can to get this thing out of the cocoon right here, right now,” Rizzo said. “So I think a lot is being taken into account when we are talking [about] the next two days “.