Two St. Louis Cardinals Test Positive; Friday Game Postponed

photo: John Mozeliak via Zoom (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

St. Louis Cardinals statement

The St. Louis Cardinals learned late last night (Thursday, July 30) that two players have tested positive for COVID-19 in testing that was conducted on Wednesday, July 29 prior to their game against the Twins in Minneapolis, and have instructed the team’s players and staff to self-isolate in their Milwaukee hotel rooms until further notice.

The team did not leave their hotel this morning for Miller Park.

The Cardinals were scheduled to play the Milwaukee Brewers this afternoon. Major League Baseball has announced that today’s game against the Brewers is scheduled to be made up as part of a double-header on Sunday, August 2 (1:10 p.m. CT).

The team is currently conducting rapid testing of the entire traveling party, has implemented contact tracing, and will continue to self-isolate.

Brian Walton’s take

Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak will be meeting with the media at 3:00 p.m. CT. This article will be updated accordingly.

The team is expected to open the three-game series in Milwaukee on Saturday (and conclude with the two seven-inning contests on Sunday) if the rest of the team’s tests are negative.

The two players who tested positive are pitchers, according to The Athletic.

John Mozeliak update

The following is my summary of John Mozeliak’s comments to the media on Friday afternoon.

The PBO said there is a “lot of anxiety” right now and asked for patience.

He does not know if the two players felt ill or experienced symptoms.

Learned late last night. Tough to address until this morning.

The entire traveling party had two tests today, a rapid test administered at their hotel by a local hospital and the standard MLB saliva test. They hope to get former results as early as tonight and the latter at some point on Saturday.

Their business is baseball. They want to play if possible. Thanks to MLB for aggressiveness in response.

Their hope is there is no new positive tests. Then can feel confident about playing Saturday. That it is isolated, but know it is not 100%.

Also tested on 28th and all negatives. The two positives came from tests on the 29th. But contact tracing goes back to when they were home. Does not know that this began on the road. Contact tracing is fairly labor intensive. (AGM) Moises Rodriguez in the lead. Incubation period unknown. Tracing will include Springfield since recent arrivals joined team from there.

Will have players driving north from Springfield, but no roster changes to announce today. Will depend on tests. Cannot have more than the full taxi squad number of extra players with the team. (There are currently two openings on the three-man taxi squad.)

Always thought this (positive tests) was in the realm of possibility. Fingers crossed that tests will provide good news. He is wearing the hat of COVID Compliance Officer right now.

A few players worked out at Miller Park last night. Brewers are informed, but cleaning is business as usual procedure.

“The teams that adapt the quickest will survive.” (He did not exclude the Cardinals from this.)

No thought of stopping season. “This is our jobs. It is what we do.”

Haven’t thought about baseball today. Trying to get through today and get into position to get back on the field tomorrow.  Never got into talk of canceling series. Assuming Saturday game will be played. Will let tonight’s test results speak for themselves.

Background information on the testing and tracing processes

For more

Check out our COVID-19 Timeline here at The Cardinal Nation, with summaries and links to key virus-related news affecting the St. Louis Cardinals and Major League Baseball back to March.

St. Louis Cardinals COVID-19 Time Line

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