Thursday night’s Opening Day matchup between the Mets and Washington Nationals has been postponed because of positive coronavirus tests on the Nationals, MLB announced.
The game was also not rescheduled for Friday’s designated off day.
MLB says there is “ongoing contact tracing involving members of the Nationals organization.”
“To be honest, it’s not a surprise,” Mets manager Luis Rojas said. “We’ve been in situations like this since last year. The health is the number one thing still in the world. We’re taking care of ourselves, everyone is carrying their mask everywhere and we’re doing everything we need to do to make sure that we’re protecting each other. But we know that this is something that can happen.”
The teams won’t play until Saturday, at the earliest. And that’s still very much up in the air.
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo revealed Thursday evening that the team learned of at least two and perhaps three additional positive tests, giving them a total of as many as four (including one initial positive on Wednesday). All are players.
Mets Newsday beat reporter, Tim Healey
The coronavirus issues are limited to the Nationals, according to multiple reports. The Mets do not have any positive tests.
The Nationals and Mets are scheduled to play Saturday at 4:05 p.m. and Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
For now, all the Mets can do is continue their preparation for the beginning of their 2021 season, and it’s pending start date.
Image: Image: Tom Williams / CQ Roll Call via Associated Press
