Cardinals-Pirates series postponed over coronavirus concerns
A three-game series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis that was set to begin Monday night at Busch Stadium has been postponed while the Cardinals deal with a coronavirus outbreak.
Cardinals outfielder Lane Thomas tested positive for the virus Saturday after the team had three new positive tests Friday, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
The Cardinals have not played since July 30 and have had 13 games scrapped.
Miami and Philadelphia each had seven games postponed earlier and have returned to the field since the disruptions.
MLB said Sunday night that the league and the Cardinals “believe it is prudent to conduct additional testing while players and staff are quarantined before the team returns to play.”
• Indians pitcher Zach Plesac was sent back to Cleveland on Sunday in a rental car after violating team rules and MLB’s coronavirus protocols, a club official told the Associated Press.
The official said Plesac went out with friends in Chicago on Saturday night following his win against the White Sox. The person said the team got Plesac a car so he wouldn’t be around teammates in the event he contracted the virus.
Plesac will be isolated from the team and cannot take part in team activities until he twice tests negative for the coronavirus.
Sidelined: Pirates utility player Phillip Evans will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a concussion and fractured jaw in a collision with teammate Gregory Polanco on Saturday.
Evans was playing first base when he darted into foul territory to chase down a flyball by Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera. Polanco raced to the same spot from his position in right field. Evans pulled up when he saw Polanco coming, but it was too late. Polanco’s elbow slammed into Evans’ face as Polanco made the catch.