Phillies: Exhibition game against Nationals in jeopardy
By Matt Rappa
One of the Phillies’ three exhibition games before Opening Day may be canceled
The Philadelphia Phillies may not be permitted to travel south to Nationals Park for their first of three exhibition games this Saturday, July 18, against the reigning World Series champions.
UPDATE, July 17: The Nationals have opted to play at Nationals Park, with city guidelines reportedly being tweaked for them, according to The Washington Post’s Jesse Dougherty. As a result, the Phillies game on Saturday at the venue will now likely occur as scheduled.
The Nationals confirm they have decided to play at Nationals Park in Washington this season. This comes after active discussions of using alternative sites because of DC’s coronavirus guidelines.
According to The Washington Post, the Washington Nationals are not sure if they will be able to play at the venue, at least for now, because of “municipal coronavirus protocols.” As a result, the Nationals are “actively exploring” other venues — just one week before their scheduled season opener on July 23 against the New York Yankees.
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As part of the nation’s capital’s municipal protocols, any member of the team, whether it be players, coaches, and staff, must quarantine for two weeks if they become exposed to COVID-19. “D.C. is unwilling to bend that requirement for the Nationals,” reports The Washington Post, who adds the Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly are experiencing similar woes in their respective municipality. Since the start of summer camp earlier this month, eight Nationals players and one each entered D.C.’s required two-week quarantine. Six of those players entered the country from the Dominican Republic.
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Given the Nationals’ July 23 opener is in question, the Phillies-Nationals exhibition slated for Saturday appears to be in doubt, although it has yet to be canceled. Probable Opening Day starters Aaron Nola and Max Scherzer were slated as the probable starters for the exhibition contest.
The Phillies also have summer camp exhibitions scheduled for July 19, home against the Baltimore Orioles, and July 20, away against the New York Yankees. Both, slated to begin at 6:05 p.m., will air on NBC Sports Philadelphia and SportsRadio 94 WIP.
Locations where the Nationals are considering to play in lieu of Nationals Park, according to the Post, include their Single-A venue in Fredericksburg, Virginia, as well as their West Palm Beach, Florida, spring training venue.
This is clearly not good news as it relates to the return of baseball and being able to get through the entire 66-day, 60-game slate. Six of the Phillies’ 60 games are scheduled to be at Nationals Park, August 25-27 and September 21-23. Now, the road games could be held in either Virginia or Florida if the 14-day quarantine mandate does not ease.