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MLB postpones Mets-Nationals opening series due to COVID-19 concerns

The Washington Nationals and New York Mets will have to wait a little longer to hold opening day. MLB postponed the opening series between both teams due to COVID-19 concerns.

The series was expected to start Thursday, but MLB postponed that contest after at least one member of the Nationals tested positive for COVID-19. Further tests reportedly revealed additional positives, causing MLB to postpone the entire series Friday.

MLB did not confirm additional positive tests, instead saying the series was postponed "due to continued follow-up testing and contact tracing involving members of the Nationals organization."

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo confirmed four players have tested positive for COVID-19. Five others, including a team staff member, are in quarantine due to contact tracing.

As a result, the Mets are expected to open their season Monday, when the team will begin a series against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Nationals will take on the Atlanta Braves on Monday. It's unclear whether that series will go on as planned due to the Nationals' COVID-19 situation.

COVID-19 impacted Nationals last season

It's the second straight season in which the Nationals' opener has been impacted by COVID-19. The team was without star outfielder Juan Soto for the start of the 2020 MLB season due to Soto testing positive for COVID-19. Soto believed it was a false positive, but still missed weeks before he was cleared to return to the team.

Under MLB rules in 2021, any player who tests positive for COVID-19 will have to isolate for a minimum of 10 days. If the Nationals are cleared to play Monday's game, the team will be without a number of players.

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