An unidentified Reds player tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, per a report from The Athletic — the first in MLB outside of St. Louis in two weeks.
Players were informed of the positive test after Cincinnati's 8-1 victory over the Pirates on Friday. The Reds were scheduled to play Pittsburgh on Saturday and Sunday, though Jeff Passan of ESPN reported the remainder of the series will likely be canceled as the team begins contact-tracing and isolating players.
Today's game between the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates has been postponed in the wake of the positive COVID-19 test on the Reds, a source familiar with the situation tells ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 15, 2020
MORE: What should MLB do with the Cardinals amid COVID-19 outbreak?
MLB had hoped Saturday would be the first time all 30 of its teams played on the same day since July 26: the day four Marlins players tested positive for COVID-19. Miami played that day despite the positive tests, drawing heavy criticism in the process. The other team to experience an outbreak, St. Louis, has not played since July 29. Two of its players tested positive for the coronavirus on July 31.
The incubation period for COVID-19 is two weeks, placing into question several scheduled series for the Reds against the Royals, Cardinals, Brewers and Cubs.
Ironically, Cincinnati's positive test came on the eve St. Louis was set to resume play. Despite being rivals, neither team has played each other yet this season. Cincinnati is 9-11 after Friday's win over the Pirates; the Cardinals are 2-3.
This isn't the first time Cincinnati has experienced a scare with the coronavirus, though it is the first time the team has produced a positive test under MLB's testing protocols. Three Reds players — Matt Davidson, Mike Moustakas and Joey Votto — have all been placed on the team's injured list after self-reporting COVID-19 symptoms. Another player, Nick Senzel, missed three games after self-reporting symptoms, but wasn't placed on the IL.
Of those players, only Davidson produced a positive test. However, his test was not administered by MLB and subsequent tests came back negative
