National League notes
NL EAST Atlanta Braves
The Braves were forced to start 24-year-old rookie Alex
Jackson behind the plate on opening day after both Travis
d’Arnaud and Tyler Flowers came down with symptoms linked to COVID-19.
While neither player had tested positive, the Braves left both behind in Atlanta while the team traveled to New York with Jackson and 22-year-old William Contreras as the two catchers on the active roster.
Jackson had played just four major league games, while Contreras had never played a game above Class AA.
❚ 1B Freddie Freeman, who missed the start of the July preseason while overcoming COVID-19, recovered in time to be in the Braves’ opening-day lineup for the 10th straight year.
Miami Marlins
The Marlins became the first team to have major COVID-19 issues when at least 11 players and two coaches tested positive for the virus over the weekend.
Miami’s two-game homeopening series July 27-28 against the Baltimore Orioles was postponed, as was the Philadelphia Phillies’ July 27 game against the New York Yankees.
The Marlins who tested negative went to Baltimore, where they were scheduled to face the Orioles on July 29-30.
❚ SS Miguel Rojas came within a double July 26 of becoming the first Marlins player to hit for the cycle. He went 7for-10 in the first three games.
New York Mets
The Mets lost another member of their rotation when RHP
Marcus Stroman went on the injured list because of a left calf tear, but they regained an important hitter with the return of DH Yoenis Cespedes.
Cespedes’ home run in a 1-0 opening-day win over the Atlanta Braves came in his first major league game in two years after multiple surgeries on his heels and ankle.
Stroman was supposed to be the Mets’ second starter behind ace RHP Jacob deGrom but hurt his left leg running to cover first base after taking a line drive off the leg during an intrasquad game. He didn’t think he would miss much time.
❚ IF Jed Lowrie also went on the injured list, and the Mets were even less certain about when he will return from what was described as left knee discomfort. Lowrie had just eight major league plate appearances last season.
Philadelphia Phillies
OF Andrew McCutchen was the driving force behind a pregame show of unity that was held before opening-day games across the major leagues. McCutchen and his wife, Maria, wrote a speech that actor Morgan Freeman read during the ceremony.
McCutchen said he wanted to do something more than simply kneeling before a game to call for change in the country.
“Fast-forward and it became what it is now,” McCutchen said. “It’s everyone linking together, unified and standing for each other. Having a moment for us as baseball players, which is separate from Major League Baseball, which is separate from the anthem.”
❚ RHP Seranthony Dominguez, who was diagnosed in March as needing Tommy John elbow surgery, had yet to have the surgery as opening day approached. The delay seems at least partly because of shutdowns caused by COVID-19, and it could push Dominguez’s return to late 2021 or even 2022.
Washington Nationals
The Nationals were forced to open the season without OF
Juan Soto, who tested positive for COVID-19 just before opening day. He was placed on the injured list.
The Washington Post reported that Soto was asymptomatic and subsequently took several instant-result tests that came back negative. He needs two formal negative tests conducted by Major League Baseball before he is allowed to return.
The loss of Soto further weakened a lineup missing Anthony Rendon, who left as a free agent, and 1B Ryan Zimmerman, who opted out of playing this season.
❚ RHP Stephen Strasburg had to be scratched from his scheduled start in the second game of the season because of a nerve issue in his right hand. Strasburg said he doesn’t expect to miss much time, but the injury hurt a rotation that already was without RHP Joe
Ross, who opted out of playing this season.
NL CENTRAL Chicago Cubs
Ballparks have been closed to the public during the pandemic, but some fans are still able to watch games at Wrigley Field.
Tickets are being sold to the 16 rooftops along Sheffield and Waveland avenues, which overlook the venerable ballpark in Chicago’s North Side.
Those tickets were selling for $300-$400 during the seasonopening three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers. They usually go for $150.
Under normal circumstances, the rooftop seats can hold 200-250 people a game. However, ticket sales have been capped to 40-50 to conform to social distancing guidelines. ❚ RHP Alec Mills began the year in the rotation while LHP
Jose Quintana is on the injured list because of nerve damage in his pitching thumb. Quintana was injured washing dishes at his home in Miami in late June and had surgery. He began throwing on flat ground last week.
Cincinnati Reds
2B Mike Moustakas got off to a strong start but went on the injured list July 26 when he woke up not feeling well.
Moustakas, signed to a fouryear, $64 million contract as a free agent in the offseason, had gone 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI on opening day, then had another hit the next day.