PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies will return to Citizens Bank Park on Saturday for the first time in three days, after they announced a second consecutive day of “no new” positive COVID-19 tests. The club announced that “staggered workouts” will be permitted as of Saturday afternoon.
Major League Baseball announced on Saturday afternoon that the Phillies are scheduled to resume play on Monday against the Yankees in the Bronx. The two teams, who were originally to play four games against each other this past week, will instead play two games at Yankee Stadium, before returning to Philadelphia on Wednesday and Thursday.
One coach and one member of the home clubhouse staff tested positive following this past Wednesday’s tests, which led Major League Baseball to postpone this weekend’s three-game series against the Blue Jays at Citizens Bank Park “out of an abundance of caution.” The Phillies played Miami last weekend. The Marlins have a large coronavirus outbreak.
So far, no Phillies players have tested positive.
But how much time do the Phillies need to be ready to play a game? Since Sunday’s series finale against Miami, the Phils have worked out only once, on Wednesday. Saturday afternoon’s staggered workouts will be the second.
“I don't dispute that this layoff this week has created a lot of challenges for us,” Klentak said Wednesday. “On the field, off the field. The administrative burden on many people. The uncertainty for the players. The players aren't playing baseball right now, and they are used to playing almost daily. Now we're going to have five days off, and we're going to ramp it up with two games on Saturday. That presents its own health risks -- maybe not COVID-related, but orthopedic.”