One week into the start of the 2020 season, baseball is continuing to feel the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
With two games (Miami Marlins vs. Washington Nations and Toronto Blue Jays vs. Philadelphia Phillies) already postponed, a third game on Friday night now won't be played. After two St. Louis Cardinals players reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus, MLB has decided to postpone Friday night's matchup between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Cardinals, leaving 20 percent of the league's schedule sidelined.
A potential Cardinals-related outbreak could be of particular interest to the Cleveland Indians, who are currently facing the Minnesota Twins. Earlier this week, the Twins played two games vs. the Cardinals in Minnesota, the last of which was played on Wednesday.
Earlier this week, MLB opted to temporarily pause the Marlins season after several players tested positive for COVID-19 following their season-opening series with the Phillies. While no Phillies players have since tested positive for the virus, two staff members have.
Friday's news of positive Cardinals tests could threaten a baseball season that already appeared fragile. While MLB's positive COVID-19 cases were previously confined to the East Coast, the Cardinals' cases now indicate it could also become an issue in the Midwest.
In March, MLB delayed the start of its season due to the coronavirus pandemic. After months of negotiations between the league and its players' association, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred used his authority to enact a 60-game regular season, which began on July 23.