The Washington Nationals and New York Mets opening day game will be postponed due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns. Wednesday, March 31, 2021, Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo said that one of his players tested positive for the Coronavirus. Four players and one staff member who was in close contact with the individual who tested positive while on the plane headed up from Spring Training in West Palm Beach to begin their regular season are required to quarantine.

COVID-19 tests were conducted for the Nationals on Monday in West Palm Beach, Florida, at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches at their Spring Training facility. The positive COVID-19 test came back from the lab on Wednesday, which has resulted in six members of the Nationals organization quarantining. According to Major League baseball health and safety protocols for 2021, the player that has tested positive for COVID-19 is required to isolate for at least 10 days before being cleared by baseballs COVID-19 committee along with the player’s team physician after being evaluated and being cleared that the player is no longer a risk to other players in Major League Baseball.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan stated that there are concerns at least one more Nationals players has tested positive for COVID-19. The Nationals have not been vaccinated yet, but it is highly encouraged by Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo for players to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible to receive the vaccine.

Major League Baseball put out a statement regarding the postponement of today’s ballgame, saying, “because of ongoing contact tracing involving members of the Nationals organization. Out of abundance of caution, the game will not be made up on Friday.”

Today’s matchup between three-time CY Young Award winner Max Scherzer and two-time CY Young Award winner Jacob deGrom is set to happen on Saturday unofficially, April 3, 2021, at 4:05 pm.