Thursday's regular season opener between the Washington Nationals and New York Mets has been postponed due to ongoing contact tracing related to a positive COVID-19 test, the Nationals organization has confirmed.
"Tonight's scheduled game between the host Washington Nationals and the New York Mets at Nationals Park has been postponed because of ongoing contact tracing involving members of the Nationals organization," reads a statement from the Nationals. "Out of an abundance of caution, the game will not be made up on Friday. We will continue to provide updates as available."
Nationals GM Mike Rizzo had announced to reporters on Wednesday that a Nats player had tested positive, with five other team personnel having been in close contact with the person.
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With Thursday's Opening Day game scheduled for a 7:15 p.m. first pitch, ESPN's Buster Olney broke the news around 11 a.m. that the game had been postponed. ESPN's Jeff Passan followed up by reporting that at least one more positive test on the Nationals was the cause for the postponement.
The Nationals and Mets have a built in off-day on Friday before their next scheduled game on Saturday.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY, as of Thursday morning, the Nationals feared there would be more players who tested positive. Washington is currently awaiting official confirmation from the labs, Nightengale adds, but a second player has indeed tested positive.
Nightengale further reports both teams are now scheduled to play their season opener on Saturday, although it's currently unclear if that will be scheduled as a double header (along with their previously scheduled Saturday game).
More information is now coming in on the cause for concern leading to Thursday's postponement.
This story is developing and will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.