Stadiums for Nationals, Cardinals will move to full capacity in June
The St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals will return to full capacity.
Washington said Wednesday it will move to 100% at Nationals Park starting with a June 10 game against the Giants.
The Cardinals will move to 100% at Busch Stadium starting with a June 14 game against Miami.
St. Louis dropped its mask requirement for fully vaccinated fans on May 14. The Cardinals will continue to have limited seating in pods for home games through June 9.
Only Texas among the 30 major league teams began this season at 100% after fans weren’t permitted last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Atlanta went to full capacity on May 7.
Others making the move in-season are Arizona (May 25), Cincinnati (June 2). Washington (June 11), Philadelphia (June 12), Milwaukee (June 25) and Minnesota (July 5).
In addition, the New York Yankees and Mets are allowed by New York State to go to 100% capacity starting Wednesday, but only for sections with vaccinated fans.
A’S PUK, LUZARDO GETTING CLOSER TO RETURN >> Oakland A’s left-hander A.J. Puk (strained left biceps) will throw an inning for Triple-A Las Vegas today as he builds toward rejoining the club. Jesus Luzardo, on the injured list since May 2 with a left hand fracture, will throw a bullpen session at the Coliseum.
How Luzardo fares will determine when he has a rehab assignment with Las Vegas.
“He’ll go through a process of bullpens and then he’ll have to go to Las Vegas at some point to get some innings in,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said.
• James Kapreilian, who went five innings in his big league debut at Fenway Park on May 12 to get a win against the Boston Red Sox, will open the A’s series against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night in Anaheim.
VACCINATED NATS PLAYER TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 >> An unidentified Washington Nationals player who is vaccinated and asymptomatic has tested positive for COVID-19, manager Dave Martinez said.
That player was deemed to have been in close contact with another Nationals player who is not vaccinated. Martinez said neither player would have been in the starting lineup against the Chicago Cubs and neither was available off the bench. The Nationals placed right-handed pitchers Erick Fedde and Tanner Rainey on the injured list before the game.
IL MOVES >> The Arizona Diamondbacks activated center fielder Ketel Marte off the 10-day injured list. He hadn’t played since he strained his right hamstring April 7. .. The New York Mets placed right-handed starter Taijuan Walker on the 10-day IL due to left side tightness.