Two Cleveland pitchers violate protocols
Indians starter Mike Clevinger will be quarantined and undergo testing after violating COVID-19 protocols during the team’s weekend trip to Chicago, the second Cleveland pitcher in two days to be disciplined for breaking team rules.
The team said Monday that Clevinger will not make his scheduled start Tuesday at home against the Cubs.
On Sunday, Indians right-hander Zach Plesac was sent home from Chicago in a rental car after he went out with friends following his start on Saturday, a violation of the team’s code of conduct.
The Indians had Plesac drive home so he wouldn’t be around his teammates in case he had contracted the coronavirus. Clevinger flew home with the team.
The club is being strict with player behavior in light of the virus outbreaks that have forced the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins to have games postponed.
It’s not known if Clevinger and Plesac will face additional penalties from the Indians.
The episode with Plesac, the nephew of former Milwaukee Brewers reliever Dan Plesac, is the most high-profile evidence of baseball’s increasing concern about its guidelines.
“I realize I made a poor choice to leave the hotel, which broke protocols and could have endangered other people,” Plesac said. “I understand that in these times of uncertainty, I need to be more vigilant and responsible and I am determined to earn my teammates’ forgiveness and get back to work.”
Bumgarner sidelined: Arizona Diamondbacks ace Madison Bumgarner has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a mid-back strain.
The left-hander was lifted after two innings Sunday against San Diego due to back spasms.
Bumgarner allowed six runs on five hits in two innings against the Padres to remain winless since signing an $85 million, five-year deal with Arizona last offseason. The four-time all-star has seen his velocity dip into the upper 80s this season and has a 9.35 ERA after Sunday’s start.
Stroman opts out: Pitcher Marcus Stroman’s recovery from a torn left calf muscle was almost complete, and he was in line to possibly make his season debut for the New York Mets next week against the Miami Marlins.
But the idea of traveling to one of the country’s coronavirus hot spots played a factor in Stroman’s decision Monday to opt out of the 2020 season.
“Obviously, you see the Cardinals, the Marlins, you see spikes everywhere in the country, you see protocols not being handled properly,” Stroman said during a Zoom call. “You see us going to Florida soon. That was a big discussion I had with my family. Going to see the Marlins soon, that’s something I don’t want to be in that situation.”