COVID-19 Continues To Disrupt Baseball Season With More MLB Games Postponed

Two more Major League Baseball games have been postponed because of a coronavirus outbreak within one team. Four more members of the Miami Marlins’ organization tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday, according to multiple reports, after 11 players and two coaches were diagnosed with the disease over the previous four days.

On Monday, MLB postponed Miami’s two-game series at its home ballpark against the Baltimore Orioles. The contest between the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies was postponed because the Marlins played a weekend series at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park.

Tuesday’s game between the clubs has also been postponed. New York will practice at Yankees Stadium instead, according to The New York Post.

No Phillies have tested positive for COVID-19 since playing against the Marlins Friday through Sunday, according to multiple reports. Philadelphia and New York are scheduled to play at Yankees Stadium Wednesday and Thursday.

Yankees were told the decision to postpone tonight’s game was based on abundance of caution. There was no indication given that any Phillies players had tested positive.
— Karl Ravech (@karlravechespn) July 28, 2020

As @JeffPassan @JesseRogersESPN reported, of the testing done yesterday, there were no initial positives among #Phillies players or staff. A Citizens Bank Park's visiting clubhouse staff member tested positive in a previous round of testing over the weekend, sources tell ESPN.
— Marly Rivera (@MarlyRiveraESPN) July 28, 2020

It hasn’t been determined if the Marlins will play their scheduled game Wednesday in Baltimore. Each MLB team has a pool of 30 players who are kept separate from the major-league rosters in order to help fill spots created by an outbreak.

“A team losing a number of players, making it completely non-competitive, would be something we would have to address and have to think about making a change,” commissioner Rob Manfred said on MLB Network Monday when asked what would cause the league to shut down. “Our first concern is the health of the players and their families. And making sure we do everything possible to minimize the spread of the virus to our employees.”

The incubation period for COVID-19 can be up to 14 days, according to the CDC. It’s possible that more Marlins will test positive for the coronavirus in the coming days.

MLB is just five days into its shortened 60-game season.