The St. Louis Cardinals have not played in a regular season game since Wednesday, July 29, after multiple staff members tested positive for COVID-19.
Well, the outbreak has spread to multiple members within the organization. After additional testing was done, seven players have tested positive along with six staff members, bringing the total number of positive tests in St. Louis' traveling party to 13, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Mark Saxon.
Official word from MLB: 13 new positive tests for COVID-19, seven players, six staff members. Tentative plan is for team to resume season Friday in St. Louis against the Cubs.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 3, 2020
Source: the #STLCards are not going to Detroit, which was to be their next destination. That means they likely will have to make up at least seven games.
— Mark Saxon (@markasaxon) August 3, 2020
As a result, the Cardinals will not travel to Detroit for their four-game series with the Tigers that was scheduled to begin Monday, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. The tentative plan for St. Louis is to return to action on Friday for a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs.
The positive tests among the Cardinals players occurred after a few players allegedly went to the casino, according to Jerry Hairston Jr. and confirmed by Jon Heyman.
At least a couple Cardinals did go to a Casino, as @TheRealJHair 1st suggested. MLB has since tightened its rule on leaving the team hotel from very strongly discouraged to not allowed. Cards Covid count going into today: 3 players, 4 staff
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 3, 2020
The Cardinals are the second team to have multiple games canceled due to positive tests. The Miami Marlins have not played since Sunday, July 26, after an outbreak ripped through the organization with a total of 18 positive tests among players. The Marlins are set to resume their season Tuesday against the Orioles.
Last Friday, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said the league could shut down if players don't do a better job of following coronavirus protocols. However, a day later, Manfred said the MLB will continue playing despite more positive tests, saying "there is no reason to quit now."
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Report: St. Louis Cardinals season postponed until Friday after more positive coronavirus tests originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington