More details on Nats-Phillies postponement

Wednesday’s Nationals-Phillies game has been postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak among Nationals players and staff. The two teams are scheduled to play a single admission doubleheader beginning at 12:05 pm on Thursday. Gates at Citizens Bank Park are scheduled to open at 11:05 am. Tickets for Wednesday’s game are not valid for Thursday’s doubleheader.

According to Nationals manager Dave Martinez, the team has 11 additional positive cases. Star shortstop Trea Turner left Tuesday’s game in the middle of the first inning after testing positive for COVID-19. Of the 12 total cases the Nationals are dealing with, eight are among staff members and four are among players, including Turner. Only one positive test is from someone who is unvaccinated. Martinez is confident that the Nationals will be able to play Thursday.

“Thus far, nobody has gotten very sick,” Martinez said, “Which is a good thing. And I do believe the vaccinations have helped in a big way and I encourage people to get vaccinated. It does help. I’m seeing it first hand. For the guys that are getting sick, it’s basically a small head cold. But they’re doing fine.”

The Nationals are among the 23 MLB teams who have reached the 85 percent vaccination threshold, which allows Tier 1 individuals (players, coaches, trainers and select staff members) to enjoy relaxed COVID-19 protocols. Players and staff all underwent rapid testing following Turner’s positive test. The game was postponed in order to assess the scope of the Nationals’ outbreak.

Zack Wheeler and Vince Velasquez are the Phillies’ probable pitchers for Thursday’s games, but the order in which they’ll pitch is unclear. So far, the Phillies have not had any new positive tests.

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