CUBS CONCERNED ABOUT OUTBREAK
The Chicago Cubs are concerned about a possible COVID-19 outbreak after two coaches tested positive for the virus and three relievers were placed on the COVID-19-related injured list.
The team announced the positive test for bullpen coach Chris Young on Monday, with first base coach Craig Driver already away from the team following his positive test.
Relievers Brandon Workman, Jason Adam and Dan Winkler were placed on the COVID-19-related injured list. There was no word on whether their designation was the result of a positive test or contact tracing.
Despite the issues, manager David Ross said Monday night’s series opener at Milwaukee was never in jeopardy of being postponed.
“Everyone has tested today that is here and is negative,” he said.
Left-handers Justin Steele and Brad Wieck were recalled from the team’s alternate site in South Bend, Ind. Veteran reliever Pedro Strop was selected as a replacement player from the alternate site. All three players were expected to be available against the Brewers.
Ross said the team is being “extra cautious” right now.
“I think that once you get a positive and what we got with Craig, it’s just on your radar for a while,” he said. “There’s always that underlying ‘How big is this?’ There’s concern, for sure.”
Nationals get healthy
Josh Bell swung at golf-ball-sized Wiffle balls darting about at what he estimates was 75 to 95 mph. Kyle Schwarber used virtual reality goggles to study major league pitching and took some real-world hacks with the help of a tee and net delivered to his home.
Whatever it took to try to get ready for their debuts with the Nationals — 11 days after the MLB season actually began.
Bell, Schwarber and Josh Harrison were reinstated from the injured list by the Nationals, making the team’s roster nearly whole again after a coronavirus outbreak sidelined nine players and caused postponements of four games.
Rain won’t go away
The Mets sidestepped another meteorological miscue Monday night.
A day after pushing starter Marcus Stroman to pitch amid rain that paused play after seven minutes, the Mets called off their game against the Phillies with another downpour en route, rescheduling it as part of a doubleheader today.
Both games today will be seven innings, keeping with an adjustment introduced during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
New York has played just five games in the first 12 days of the season due to a COVID-19 outbreak among the Nationals and then bad weather.
Notable
Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon was placed on the 10-day injured list because of a strained groin. Rendon was hurt while making a throw late in a 15-1 loss to Toronto on Saturday.
• Right-hander Zac Gallen is set to return for the Diamondbacks after missing the season’s first few weeks with a hairline fracture in his right forearm. Manager Torey Lovullo said that Gallen is scheduled to start today against the Athletics.
• gets a $21 million signing bonus as part of his $341 million, 10-year contract with the Mets that starts next year. His new deal, announced April 5, calls for the signing bonus to be paid upon the deal’s approval by the commissioner’s office. He gets salaries of $32 million annually starting in 2021, of which $5 million each year is deferred without interest.
• Rangers right-hander Jonathan Hernandez had ligament reconstruction surgery on his right elbow Monday, just less than two weeks after fellow reliever Jose Leclerc had the same procedure.
• Miami catcher Jorge Alfaro was scratched from the lineup because of lingering hamstring tightness. Marlins manager Don Mattingly said he hopes Alfaro, who has missed five straight games, will be back by Thursday. Marlins RHP Sixto Sanchez (shoulder discomfort) is progressing at the team’s alternate training site in Jupiter, Fla. He is undergoing rehab exercises and throwing at 45 feet. RHP Jorge Guzman (elbow) is throwing bullpens in Jupiter and should face live hitters next. RHP Edward Cabrera (biceps) is throwing at 75 feet. RHP Elieser Hernandez (biceps) has yet to start throwing.
• St. Louis is closer to having two of its starting pitchers back from the IL. LHP Kwang Hyun Kim (back tightness) threw 86 pitches Sunday, and manager Mike Schildt said everything looked good for him to get back to the club soon, though he didn’t give a timeline. Shildt also said the progress of RHP Miles Mikolas (shoulder stiffness) is on target. He threw a bullpen session Monday at Busch Stadium. He’ll throw another in a few days after which the Cardinals will determine if he’s ready to face hitters.