St. Louis game is off

Virus outbreak among Cardinals forces postponement of Monday series opener.

The Pirates’ game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday at Busch Stadium will not be played as originally scheduled, sources confirmed Saturday night to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

After the team’s chartered flight Sunday was canceled because of the Cardinals’ COVID-19 outbreak, the earliest they could travel would be Monday morning, thus negating any games later that day.

Sources indicated that test results expected to arrive Sunday would determine whether or not the rest of the series will go off as scheduled, which potentially could include a doubleheader featuring two seven-inning games, a new wrinkle for 2020.

The Twitter account @SportsAviation and ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported the news of the canceled flight and postponed game. Pirates players and staff were told of the changes late Saturday night, the Post-Gazette learned.

The Pirates, obviously, did not want to fly to St. Louis unless they knew for sure they actually would play.

While the Pirates have fared well when it comes to the impact of COVID19, thanks to a combination of good luck and adhering to Major League Baseball’s health and safety protocols, other teams such as the Cardinals have not been so fortunate.

The Cardinals have played just five games, none since July 29, and recently saw a weekend series with the Cubs canceled after two more players and a staff member tested positive for the virus.

That brings their organization total to nine players and seven staff members who’ve been infected, and it appears COVID-19 is riding a second wave through the organization.

Addressing the topic earlier Saturday, general manager Ben Cherington said the Pirates would proceed as if they’re playing … until someone tells them they’re not.

“I would certainly expect and want to have more information before we get on the plane,” Cherington said. “I expect we will have more information, and the league has been really good about sharing every bit of information they can relative to health and safety.

“So I would not think we would get on the plane without more information. If we do, it’ll be because we’re confident we can go there and follow the protocols, be safe in doing so and get into our hotel and play Major League Baseball games. But we need some more information.”

If the Pirates learn the entire series has been canceled before leaving for St. Louis, chances are they would hold some type of workouts at PNC Park before a four-game series starting Thursday against the Reds at Great American Ball Park Cincinnati.

Perhaps intrasquad games or practices, something like they did during spring training 2.0.

The Pirates have been one of MLB’s better teams when it has come to COVID-19 issues. They’ve had five players test positive, but four of them came at intake — meaning those guys likely had the virus before arriving here.

Since the start of spring training 2.0, only Gregory Polanco has tested positive, and he was able to stop any spread by using his brain, telling team doctors he felt symptoms and staying home.

The Pirates also have stressed the importance of not going out on the road and being smart about potential exposure.

“It helps to have good people focused on the issue all the time,” Cherington said.

Musgrove scratched

The Pirates received a blow to their starting rotation. Right-hander Joe Musgrove will not pitch Sunday against the Tigers, manager Derek Shelton said Saturday after the game. Musgrove experienced soreness in his right ankle and was scratched. In his place, left-hander Steven Brault will get the nod.

Del Pozo optioned

The Pirates on Saturday optioned left-handed reliever Miguel Del Pozo to their satellite camp in Altoona and put righthander Nick Mears on the major league roster. It’s hardly a surprise after Del Pozo struggled again Friday in a loss to the Tigers, giving up three earned runs over two ineffective innings. In 3⅔ innings with the Pirates, Del Pozo allowed seven earned runs while walking eight. Mears is a 23-year-old non-drafted free agent who enjoyed a strong 2019, pitching to a 3.28 with Class A Greensboro, Class A Bradenton and Class AA Altoona.