Nationals-Mets becomes first 2021 MLB game impacted by COVID-19

The Washington Nationals and New York Mets will not play on Opening Day.

While 2020 was full of unexpected scheduling delays — including several teams such as the Marlins and Cardinals going weeks at a time without playing due to outbreaks in the clubhouse — 2021 brought with it a surprising optimism that the majority of COVID-19 related issues were behind us in sports assuming all parties proceeded per CDC guidelines.

Yet, on Day 1 of the 2021 MLB season, a game has already been postponed. Due to at least one positive COVID-19 test among the Washington Nationals — and perhaps a second on the way — the Nats and Mets will not be able to play their Opening Day game as scheduled, much to the chagrin of baseball fans everywhere.

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This was supposed to be Francisco Lindor’s regular season debut in Mets colors, especially after he signed a 10-year, $341 million contract extension in the late hours of Wednesday night. Instead, fans will have to wait another day to see Lindor take the diamond in Mets blue.

Rather, the more important issue at hand here is just how many members of the Nationals organization have COVID-19, and whether that spread can be contained moving forward. For now, the game itself has been postponed to Saturday, when both teams previously had a scheduled off day.

MLB announced that the Nationals are undergoing contact tracing and testing to determine the severity of this problem.