On Thursday night, the New York Mets were forced to cancel their matchup against the Miami Marlins after one player and one personnel member associated with the team tested positive for the coronavirus. In addition, the highly-anticipated Subway Series opener between the Mets and the New York Yankees on Friday was also cancelled, leading most assuredly to a loss in revenue for the league.
Thursday’s positive tests now bring the total number of positive coronavirus cases among players to over 100, including star players such as Yankee closer Aroldis Chapman and Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman.
The cancellation of the game between the Mets and the Marlins is especially worrisome, considering that Miami experienced its own coronavirus outbreak late last month. Over a period between July 24th and July 31st, a total of 18 Marlins’ players tested positive, casting their season — and the entire MLB season itself — into serious doubt. As a result, the Marlins have only played 18 games this year, far below the number of games that other teams have played. To make up for it, Miami will play games for thirteen consecutive days, including a double-header against the Nationals on Saturday.
Major League Baseball will now have to contend with more scheduling challenges in an already-shortened season, and the second-half point of the 2020 schedule is fast approaching. The condensed nature of this season, with teams having to play for, in some cases, two weeks without an interruption, may have the effect of players missing time due to traditional injuries.
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