Nationals-Mets series postponed for more COVID testing

The New York Mets vs. the Washington Nationals series has been postponed due to COVID.

It may be opening weekend in the MLB, but we are going to have to wait until Monday before the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals can play their first games of the season.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, “the season-opening series between the Nationals and Mets was postponed Friday as the fallout from a COVID-19 outbreak among the Nationals cast into question when Washington’s season would begin.”

Thursday’s season opener was postponed, as well as the two games on Saturday and Sunday. Since these are NL East division rivals, they will be rescheduled and made up at a later date. New York plans to open its season at the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, while the Nationals are hoping they can still host the Atlanta Braves on Monday after having several positive tests.

The New York Mets will face the Washington Nationals at a later date

News of Washington having positive COVID tests makes this the third outbreak in baseball since the 2020 60-game season. The Miami Marlins had their issues shortly after the condensed season began. The St. Louis Cardinals had their spell with COVID later in the year. Interestingly enough, both the Marlins and the Cardinals qualified for the expanded 2020 MLB postseason.

Though it stinks for the fans of both teams, postponing the series is the right thing to do. The Mets and Nationals will play many more times throughout the season. With the rest of the Nationals team in isolation, there is a good chance their series with the Braves will be able to be played as expected. New York’s series with Philadelphia should go off without a hitch as well.

Postponing games and series is just par for the course in the COVID-era of Major League Baseball.