Saturday 11:15 a.m. update: Britt Ghiroli is reporting the Nationals do not have any new positive COVID-19 cases from their latest round of testing and their hope is to get a workout in this weekend before hosting the Braves starting Monday.
Friday 1:43 p.m. update: The Nationals have announced four players tested positive for COVID-19 and five additional players and a staff member are in quarantine as close contacts, per Jesse Rogers. Their next scheduled game is Monday at home against the Braves.
Friday 12:25 p.m. update: Major League Baseball announced that the Mets-Nationals series to open the season has been postponed entirely due to COVID-19. Opening Day was postponed after two members of the Nationals, including at least one player, tested for the virus. There were 5 five close contacts involved awaiting test results. There is no word on when the Nationals will begin their season.
Thursday 12:10 p.m. update: The Nationals had a second positive test via rapid testing and are awaiting confirmation on the PCR test results, per Britt Ghiroli. The game will not be made up on Friday, per MLB, but it’s unclear for now if it will happen on Saturday.
Thursday morning update: Opening Day is being postponed due to the Nationals COVID-19 issues, per Buster Olney. First pitch had been scheduled for 7:09 p.m. ET. It’s unclear what will happen to the rest of the Nationals-Mets series this weekend.
The Washington Nationals face the New York Mets to open the 2021 MLB season, but the 2019 World Series champs will be shorthanded for Opening Day. Nationals GM Mike Rizzo announced on Wednesday that the team has had a positive COVID-19 test and five people have been deemed close contact, per Britt Ghiroli.
Rizzo said the team will “certainly” have to make roster moves, but it’s not yet clear what that will entail. We don’t know which player tested positive and for now we only know that at least one of the five close contacts was a staff member, per Jesse Dougherty. How many players and at what positions will dictate the kinds of moves the Nationals have to make.
Washington hosts the New York Mets on Thursday, April 1 for Opening Day. Max Scherzer is starting for the Mets and Jacob deGrom is starting for the Mets. Last year, both teams went 26-34 and tied for last in the NL East.