Ppd: COVID

Positive COVID-19 tests force postponement of YankeesRed Sox game.

The Yankees’ post-All-Star break opener against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night was postponed because of positive COVID-19 tests among New York pitchers Jonathan Loaisiga, Nestor Cortes Jr. and Wandy Peralta.

Aaron Judge, Kyle Higashioka and Gio Urshela are also in COVID-19 protocols.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that tests for three players were still pending, but he did not name them. He said he assumes the tests will come back positive.

All the Red Sox All-Stars who were in Denver were asked to undergo additional testing Thursday because they were told a Yankees AllStar had tested positive.

Judge, Gerrit Cole and Aroldis Chapman all participated in the All-Star festivities this week.

Braves

Atlanta acquired Joc Pederson from the Chicago Cubs, bolstering their outfield after losing Ronald Acuña Jr. to a season-ending knee injury. Atlanta sent minor league first baseman Bryce Ball to Chicago for Pederson, who is batting .230 with 11 homers and 39 RBIs in 73 games. The 29-year-old Pederson spent his first seven seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers before signing with the Cubs in free agency in February. The Pederson deal could be the first of many for Chicago before the July 30 trade deadline. The Cubs dropped 13 of 15 before the break, moving the team into sell mode.

Phillies

Aaron Nola will not pitch this weekend when the Phillies return from the All-Star break as he remains in COVID-19 protocols following a close contact last week with Alec Bohm, who tested positive for the coronavirus. Nola was scratched Sunday from his final start of the first half and placed on the COVID-19 injured list. The Phillies said Nola tested negative for the virus, but players must spend at least a week on the injured list after coming in contact with an infected person.

Mariners

Pitcher Hector Santiago’s 10-game suspension for an undisclosed foreign substance on his glove was upheld by an arbiter, who is employed by Major League Baseball, after a lengthy appeal hearing July 9 at T-Mobile Park. Per the new guidelines and harsher penalties issued by Commissioner Rob Manfred on June 15, not only will Santiago be suspended for 10 days but Seattle will lose his roster spot, meaning they will only have 25 players on their active roster for the first 10 games after the All-Star break instead of 26.

Cardinals

Ted Simmons’ No. 23 will be retired by St. Louis during a ceremony July 31 that begins with the unveiling of a bronze statue of “Simba” alongside the “Wizard” and other Hall of Fame peers at Busch Stadium. Simmons said, “This is incredible stuff. This is way beyond my greatest expectations. Way beyond my fondest dreams.”