As the Phillies took batting practice Wednesday, word began to spread from the visiting clubhouse at Citizens Bank Park that the Washington Nationals were dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak.
Less than an hour later, the game was postponed.
Details weren’t immediately available about the health of the infected Nationals players, although Major League Baseball said in a statement that the team would undergo “continued testing and contact tracing.”
The Phillies and Nationals will make up the game Thursday as part of a split-admission doubleheader beginning at 12:05 p.m.
Nationals shortstop Trea Turner left Tuesday night’s game after the first inning when he tested positive for COVID-19. After the game, manager Dave Martinez said there weren’t any players identified as close contacts of Turner.
But the Nationals are also among the teams that has reached the 85% vaccination threshold for Tier 1 personnel, which includes major-league players, staff, and triple-A players. MLB has allowed teams that reached the 85% mark to relax the COVID protocols that were in place when the season began.
Several Nationals players, mostly pitchers, went through running, stretching, and long-tossing in the outfield while the Phillies took batting practice. Once the Phillies left the field, the ground crew began to disassemble the batting cage and other equipment used for batting practice. Zack Wheeler, the Phillies’ scheduled starter, played light catch in the outfield, a signal that the game wouldn’t be played.
Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner left Tuesday night's game at Citizens Bank Park after testing positive for COVID-19.
Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner left Tuesday night's game at Citizens Bank Park after testing positive for COVID-19.Nick Wass / AP
The Phillies are among seven teams that hasn’t reached the 85% threshold. Third baseman Alec Bohm tested positive for COVID-19 on July 11, and three players, including star pitcher Aaron Nola, missed time after being identified as close contacts.
Although the Phillies and Nationals play two more series before the end of the season, both will be in Washington (Aug. 2-5 and Aug. 30-Sept. 1). Thursday is the Nationals’ last scheduled game at Citizens Bank Park this season.
