A weekend series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Philadelphia Phillies has been canceled after two Phillies staff members tested positive for COVID-19, according to MLB.com and USA Today.
The Phillies confirmed Thursday that a member of the team's coaching staff and a member of the clubhouse staff both tested positive for the virus.
The Blue Jays — who are currently unable to play in Canada because the country's government won't allow players to travel back-and-forth from the United States — are currently "hosting" a series against the Nationals in Washington. They were scheduled to travel to Philadelphia to play a series of games as the "home" team there beginning Friday.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 30, 2020
Instead, the Blue Jays will ask the Nationals for permission to stay the weekend in D.C. or seek to travel to another city in which they will shelter in place.
The Phillies have not played since Sunday when they faced the Miami Marlins. Prior to that game, four Marlins players tested positive for COVID-19, but the game went on as scheduled. As of Thursday, more than a dozen Marlins players and staffers have tested positive for the virus. Their season is currently "on hold."
No Phillies players have since tested positive for COVID-19.
Baseball is currently the only sport attempting to resume play while allowing teams to travel between cities for games. The NBA, the NHL and MLS have chosen to conduct all their games in one or two locations, and are requiring athletes to shelter-in-place on site while competing.
