Six teams idle on weird Friday
Brewers, Cardinals will try to play this weekend
Six major league teams were idle Friday because of the coronavirus, with a Cardinals-Brewers game the latest to be postponed as a spread of infection threatened to overtake efforts to play ball.
Milwaukee’s home opener was called off hours before the first pitch after two St. Louis players tested positive for COVID-19.
“TV Show suggestions please,” tweeted Cardinals ace Jack Flaherty, one of an increasing number of players who found themselves with unexpected free time as the postponements mounted.
The Cardinals said in a statement they learned Thursday night about positive tests from samples collected Wednesday. Players and staff were instructed to isolate in their hotel rooms.
“The team is currently conducting rapid testing of the entire traveling party, has implemented contact tracing, and will continue to self-isolate,” the Cardinals said.
The Cardinals and Brewers still hoped to play Saturday night, and to make up the game Friday with two seven-inning games Sunday under a newly approved MLB plan for doubleheaders.
Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio shrugged off the setbacks and said baseball is braced for curveballs, especially this year.
“We’re all committed, I believe — and I’ve talked to a number of players today — to finishing the season,” Attanasio said. “Insofar as we can continue to provide some enjoyment for our fans, I think that’s something we’re all committed to doing . ... If we’re not smart and safe, then we’ll fail. But we’re doing everything we can not to fail.’’
Two weekend series — Nationals at Marlins and Blue Jays at Phillies — were called off earlier. The Marlins were hit with a virus outbreak in Philadelphia that infected 20 members of their traveling party, and both Miami and the Phillies are benched for at least a week.
Marlins
Miami had their 18th player test positive for the coronavirus Friday and are planning to return their infected players and coaches to Miami by bus after five days of isolation in Philadelphia. The Marlins, as first reported by ESPN and confirmed by the city Department of Public Health, will transport 18 infected players and two infected coaches in sleeper buses for the 1,200-mile trip from their Center City hotel to Miami. The rest of the team will remain in Philadelphia for the weekend, conduct daily coronavirus testing, and wait to see where and when their next game will be played.
Yankees
All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman has been cleared to return to Yankee Stadium after a bout with the coronavirus and was expected to play catch Friday before New York played host to the Boston Red Sox. Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed Chapman’s return and said he wasn’t sure when the hard-throwing left-hander would be ready to play.
White Sox
Chicago promoted second baseman Nick Madrigal, adding one of their top prospects to the roster. Madrigal, 23, had been training at the team’s auxiliary site in Schaumburg, Ill.. Veteran reliever Kelvin Herrera was designated for assignment to make room on the roster before the opener of a three-game series at Kansas City. Madrigal was selected by Chicago with the fourth overall pick in the 2018 draft after a standout collegiate career at Oregon State. Madrigal (5 feet 8) hit .311 with 4 homers and 55 RBIs in
120 games over 3 minor league stops in 2019
Cubs
Chicago signed former Cleveland Indians closer Cody Allen to a minor league deal. Allen was assigned to the team’s training site in South Bend, In. The Cubs bullpen struggled in the first week of the season. Closer Craig Kimbrel walked four batters and allowed two runs in his season debut Monday night. Righthander Dillon Maples was optioned Thursday after he struggled in his first two appearances. Allen, 31, agreed to a minor league deal with Texas in February but was released by the Rangers last week. Allen is 24-31 with a 3.14 ERA and 153 saves in 481 major league appearances in eight seasons.
Nationals
New Washington reliever Will Harris was put on the 10-day injured list with a strained right groin. The move is retroactive to Wednesday, the day after Harris previously pitched, giving up two unearned runs in the eighth inning of Washington’s 5-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Harris is 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA and one blown save in his first season with the Nationals. The 35-year-old righthander signed a $24 million, three-year contract after losing the World Series to the Nationals while with his previous team, the Houston Astros.