Newcomb sidelined by potential COVID-19 exposure,

Pitcher will ‘miss a couple days,’ says manager Snitker.

Braves left-hander Sean Newcomb is sidelined after he was potentially exposed to COVID-19, manager Brian Snitker said. The team said it doesn’t expect it to be a long-term concern.

“We put Newk in the protocol today,” Snitker said Saturday. “He’s going to miss a couple days. It’s not going to be anything significant where we can’t get him back out there and ramped up again. This is going to be ongoing all year, stuff like this.”

Newcomb is the second Braves pitcher this past week to enter COVID-19 protocols. Fellow southpaw Max Fried missed his start Friday, but the Braves said Saturday he was cleared and will rejoin the team today.

Newcomb, 27, had a disappointing 2020. He was jettisoned from the rotation and spent the bulk of the year at the alternate training site. Newcomb, who has an option remaining, is a long shot for the opening-day roster but could factor into the Braves’ season down the road. He’s been a starter and reliever, though he’s proved more effective as the latter.

Fried was out a few days after “potential exposure” to COVID-19. He did not test positive, the Braves said.

“He cleared everything, and we’ll get him back in action tomorrow,” Snitker said Saturday. “It won’t be long (before he pitches). He hasn’t been out long, so we want to get him out as soon as we can.”

Fried will make his first start sometime in the coming week, Snitker said. His status for the regular season was unaffected.

The 27-year-old is coming off a career year in which he went 7-0 with a 2.25 ERA. Fried finished fifth in Cy Young voting. He potentially could make his first opening-day start April 1 in Philadelphia.

Rainy day in Florida: The Braves’ game against the Rays scheduled for Saturday in Port Charlotte, Florida, was rained out. The Braves planned to pitch Charlie Morton and Huascar Ynoa for three innings each, with Victor Arano pitching the final frame. Ian Anderson will start today against the Red Sox.

CURTIS COMPTON/CURTIS.COMPTON@AJC.COM The Braves’ Sean Newcomb, sidelined after potential exposure to COVID-19, had a disappointing 2020. He was dropped from the rotation and spent the bulk of the year at the alternate training site.