MLB News: Yankees and other team news around baseball

New York Yankees, Yankees, Joe Girardi

With the MLB shortened season about to begin, there are still issues around baseball making news.  Here are a few of them.

New York Yankees:

New York Yankees Luis Cessa and DJ LeMahieu are back with the team after testing positive for the coronavirus.  LeMahieu has been working out and has been back for a week.  Cessa has just returned after passing two negative tests. LeMahieu remaining asymptomatic stated that it was really scary having a positive test.  Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman has tested positive and will be out for the foreseeable future.

Toronto Blue Jays:

The Canadian government will not allow the Toronto Blue Jays to play there home games at Rogers Center.  The government mandates that anyone entering the country will have to quarantine for 14 days; this would prohibit players from entering the country and therefore playing at Rogers Center.  The Jays are trying to find a place to play their home games.

Boston Red Sox:

The Red Sox got a double hit this spring.  During the offseason, the lost David Price and Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Their best pitcher last year, Eduardo Rodriguez tested positive for the coronavirus has just returned to Boston and is starting to get his arm strength up. Instead of starting E-Rod, they now will have to rely on Nathan Eovaldi to start on opening day.

Washington Nationals:

The Washington Nationals will open their season at Nationals Park on July 23rd in the nation’s capital.  Scheduled is Max Scherzer to start against the New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole. In his exhibition game against the Phillies yesterday, Scherzer allowed seven runs in just five innings in the Nationals loss.  The Phillies will face the New York Yankees on Monday night at Yankee Stadium.

The Houston Astros: 

The Houston Astros have several problems entering this short season. One is that Justin Verlander has had a horrible spring training and summer camp suffering several minor injuries.  Although now somewhat healthy, he appeared on the field yesterday wearing a mask. Several Astros players are not at Minutemaid park without any explanation.

Tampa Bay Rays:

The Tampa Bay Rays have snubbed Ray ace, Blake Snell, in favor of Charlie Morton for their Opening Day pitchers against the Toronto Blue Jays.  On the starting day, Austin Meadows won’t be with the team as he was officially placed on the injured list by the Rays after he tested positive for COVID-19. Meadows gave the Rays consent to release the information on Thursday.

Philadelphia Phillies:

The Phillies trashed the Washington Nationals in yesterday’s exhibition game in D.C. Pitcher Nola was lights out for the Phillies, while Scherzer allowed seven runs in five innings.  Ex-Yankee Didi Gregorius has chronic kidney disease and will wear a mask in all games this year.  The Yankees will face the Phillies on Monday night for their first real challenge. Pitchers for the game at Yankees Stadium have not been announced.

Along with the Yankees seeing their old boss, Joe Girardi, ex-Yankees Didi Gregorius, and Ronald Torreyes may be in the game.  When Girardi was asked about the matchup, he said it will be strange entering the Stadium in a different uniform.

 

 

 

 

 

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