Miami Marlins Games Postponed Until Sunday Due To Coronavirus Cases

The Miami Marlins celebrate their Opening Day win against the Philadelphia Phillies last week at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

By Alana Wise

July 28, 2020

Updated at 3:30 p.m. ET

Major League Baseball on Tuesday announced that all Miami Marlins games have been postponed until Sunday, following a rash of coronavirus cases within the team's ranks.

Four additional players reportedly tested positive for the virus by Tuesday, according to The Athletic reporter Ken Rosenthal. The team's total number of cases has reportedly risen to at least 17, including two coaches.

"Given the current circumstances, MLB believes that it is most prudent to allow the Marlins time to focus on providing care for their players and planning their Baseball Operations for a resumption early next week," the league said in a statement.

MLB said that aside from the Marlins cases, there had been no additional confirmed positives of on-field personnel from any of the other 29 teams since Friday.

The league had already postponed two games on Monday because of COVID-19 concerns. The Marlins have played three games since the season started last week.

"It's fair to say guys are concerned about things," Marlins manager Don Mattingly told The Associated Press on Monday. "I think it's fair. We're talking about health."

The team has been sheltered in place in Philadelphia, Pa., for self-quarantine and additional testing.

The United States has struggled to control the virus' spread, and a growing appetite to return to normalcy after months of partial lockdowns has pushed some industries to reopen despite rising cases of the coronavirus. Other major league sports, such as the NHL and NBA, are preparing to start their seasons.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the nation's leading immunologists, said Tuesday that the Marlins outbreak could put the remaining MLB season in jeopardy. He said he hoped, on behalf of the players and staff, that games could continue.

"I don't believe they need to stop, but we just need to follow this and see what happens with other teams on a day-by-day basis," Fauci said on ABC's Good Morning America.

Fauci threw the first pitch of the regular season opener between the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals last week.