Major League Baseball is already dealing with a postponed game due to a positive COVID-19 test as it was announced the season opener between the Washington Nationals and the New York Mets would be canceled, hours before the first pitch.
The brunt of the issue pertains to the Nationals as only its players have experienced a “positive test and related problems,” Mets Newsday reporter Tim Healey wrote in a Thursday tweet. The game was scheduled to take place Thursday evening at Nationals Park and was going to be broadcast on ESPN.
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“Tonight’s scheduled game between the Nationals and the Mets at Nationals Park has been postponed because of ongoing contact tracing involving members of the Nationals organization,” the MLB wrote in a statement. “Out of an abundance of caution, the game will not be made up on Friday.”
Teams around the league have reduced their capacity to reduce the risk of virus transmission. The Nationals were set to open at about 12% capacity, room for 5,000 season ticket holders.
President Joe Biden on Thursday insisted it was a “mistake” for the Texas Rangers to reopen their stadium to full capacity on opening day.
“Well, that’s a decision they made. I think it’s a mistake,” the president said in an eve-of-season interview with ESPN. “They should listen to Dr. [Anthony] Fauci, the scientists, and the experts. But I think it’s not responsible.”
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The Rangers say they will require fans to wear masks, except when eating and drinking, and that concession stands will be cashless. Plexiglass screens will protect players in the dugouts.
