Nationals–Phillies Game Postponed After COVID-19 Outbreak

Wednesday's game was postponed after 12 members of the Nationals organization tested positive for COVID-19, including four players.

Wednesday night's game between the Nationals and Phillies has been postponed in order for testing and contact tracing to be continued on the Nationals, MLB announced. A COVID-19 outbreak in Washington's clubhouse was first reported by The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

The game was postponed after 12 members of the Nationals organization tested positive for COVID-19, including four players, according to manager Davey Martinez. It could be the largest outbreak any team has dealt with this season, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. 

Potential COVID-19 outbreak among #Nats forces postponement pic.twitter.com/Gt3CNbpLhN

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 28, 2021

Washington shortstop Trea Turner was removed from the first inning of Tuesday's game between the Phillies and Nationals after testing positive for COVID-19.

The vast majority of players and staff who tested positive were vaccinated, according to Passan, with a number of them having had the Johnson & Johnson single-shot vaccine.

Wednesday's game was originally scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET at Citizen's Bank Park.  MLB later announced both teams will play a double-header starting at 12 p.m. instead.