Nationals avoid weekend series in Miami, as MLB pauses Marlins season

MLB baseball has stepped in an paused the Miami Marlins’ season. The Marlins won’t play until Monday, according to MLB’s announcement. That means the Washington Nationals will avoid a trip to Miami for a three-game series this weekend.

MLB makes it official: Marlins postponed through Sunday, Yankees to play at Orioles Wednesday and Thursday, Phillies off until Friday. Full release: pic.twitter.com/eHVd0FznSE

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 28, 2020

MLB’s decision comes on the heel of a COVID-19 outbreak within the Marlins organization. Four players tested positive for the virus on Sunday. However, Miami went on to play their series finale at the Philadelphia Phillies.

Seven Marlins players and two staff members tested positive on Monday, causing the cancellation of their home opener against the Baltimore Orioles. Their game for Tuesday was also cancelled after four more players contracted the virus. The Phillies games on Monday and Tuesday were postponed against the New York Yankees.

Nationals manager Dave Martinez expressed his concerns about continuing the season, particularly playing the Marlins this weekend. A majority of the Nationals players voted not to travel to Miami this weekend due to their concerns of Marlins’ coronavirus outbreak.

Dave Martinez says there was one guy who wanted to play in Miami this weekend — but other than that, it was a near-unanimous decision to tell MLB they did not want to travel to Florida.

— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) July 28, 2020

“I think MLB did the right thing. It’s all about keeping us safe,” Martinez said to reporters per Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports.

Martinez told reporters Tuesday, the players’ vote had more to do with opposition of playing in the state of Florida than the Marlins. Florida’s coronavirus cases have soared in recent weeks as the state has more lax guidelines than other states around the nation.

Davey Martinez makes a point to say the Nationals' clubhouse meeting yesterday when players voted not to travel to Miami this weekend had nothing to do with the Marlins. "It had everything to do with the state of Florida."

— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) July 28, 2020

Fortunately, MLB at least pivoted and altered the schedule. Having the defending World Series champions take a stand against playing may have influenced the league’s decision.

With Miami off until Monday, the Yankees and Orioles will play Wednesday and Thursday in Baltimore. The Phillies will not play until Friday, as the team awaits their coronavirus test results.

MLB is still moving forward with the 60-game schedule. The league will have to figure out a unique way to get the Nationals, Marlins, Phillies, Yankees and Orioles evened in games and all while crossing their fingers there won’t be any more team outbreaks.