Nationals’ Soto tests positive for coronavirus

Highlighting the pitfalls of beginning the baseball season amid a pandemic, Nationals slugger Juan Soto tested positive for COVID-19 and was put on the injured list Thursday, hours before the 2019 World Series champions were scheduled to face the Yankees on opening day.

Major League Baseball is the first of the major North American team sports playing regular-season games amid the coronavirus outbreak, which is getting worse in some parts of the U.S.

“You feel bad for him. He’s a great player. The fans want to see him. And it affects our lineup,” Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said.

“But what can you do about it?” Rizzo added. “We’re going to have to win without our best guy. It’s a challenge.”

Soto, a 21-year-old outfielder who was a breakout star of last October after producing 34 homers and 110 RBIs during the regular season, will be sidelined until he can come up negative on two consecutive coronavirus tests.

“Unfortunately it hit us. And it hit us at a bad time,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said.

Soto, replaced in left field by Andrew Stevenson in Thursday’s lineup, already had missed the first two weeks of the team’s summer camp this month after being exposed to someone with COVID-19.

Kershaw scratched: Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was put on the injured list because of a back issue hours before he was scheduled to start Thursday night against the Giants.

Manager Dave Roberts said Kershaw’s back stiffened up in a weight room workout two days ago. The three-time NL Cy Young

Award winner had been set to make his ninth opening day start.

Kershaw is being replaced by 22-year-old right-hander Dustin May, who will become the first Dodgers rookie to start on opening day since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981.

Jays still seeking home: The Orioles and the state of Maryland have had talk about the team sharing Oriole Park at Camden Yards with the displaced Blue Jays amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Blue Jays are looking for a Major League park after the Canadian government declined to allow them to play in Toronto, and the state of Pennsylvania nixed a deal to play in Pittsburgh.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan acknowledged in an interview with AP there have been talks about the state hosting the Blue Jays.

“We’ve had some discussions with the Orioles. I don’t know the final details of that. Obviously, we’re watching our numbers very carefully everyday,” Hogan told AP.

Indians discuss name change:

Before the Indians make a definitive decision on changing their name, they’ll listen to those they may have most offended over the last 105 years.

Owner Paul Dolan said the team will speak to Native American groups as one of the preliminary steps in the potential name change, which was spurred by a national movement this summer to remove racist symbols and monuments.

Earlier this week, Dolan, whose family took ownership of the franchise in 2000, met with players, front-office members and manager Terry Francona to discuss the possibility of the name change as well as other issues such as social justice and race relations.

“Our players care about the organization and feel strongly about social justice and racial equality,” Dolan said.

Extra innings: The White Sox reinstated 3B Yoan Moncada from the injured list, clearing the way for him to open the season in the lineup after missing the start of summer camp because he contracted COVID-19 . ... Red Sox LHP Eduardo Rodriguez will be shut down from all baseball activities for at least a week after he experienced a setback in his return from COVID-19. Manager Ron Roenicke said Rodriguez experienced some “minor complications.” ... The Mariners signed RHP Brian Shaw and placed C Tom Murphy on the 10-day injured list in setting their 30-man roster . ... The Twins put RHP Jake Odorizzi on the 10-day injured list due to mild soreness in his upper back.