The Washington Nationals expect to be without four players — Kyle Schwarber, Josh Harrison, Jon Lester and Alex Avila — if their 2021 season starts early this week, according to Jesse Doughtery of The Washington Post.
The Nationals have had four players test positive for COVID-19 with additional five players deemed close contacts. However, it does not necessarily mean Schwarber, Harrison, Lester or Avila’s absences are related to the coronavirus. The team has not announced any players names who have tested positive or quarantining as a close contact.
The Nationals were supposed to start its season on Thursday. However, MLB postponed their three-game series with the New York Mets after the string of positive tests. The team has reportedly had no additional positive tests since and the team hopes to play their first game Monday against the Atlanta Braves. Although, MLB has not given an official go-ahead to play.
General manager Mike Rizzo said Friday that players from the Nationals’ alternate training site in Fredericksburg will replace the missing players.
