Phillies close Citizens Bank Park after two positive COVID-19 tests; series with Jays in doubt

The Phillies canceled all activity at Citizens Bank Park until further notice on Thursday afternoon after the club announced two employees tested positive for COVID-19.

The club announced that a member of the coaching staff and a member of the home clubhouse staff each tested positive, this after a visiting clubhouse staff member tested positive earlier this week.

The positive results come just days after more than half of the Marlins' traveling party to Philadelphia tested positive for COVID-19. The Marlins won two of three contests over the Phillies this past weekend at Citizens Bank Park.

#BlueJays Charlie Montoyo:

“We’re not going to Philadelphia. Those games have been postponed.”

If they can work out in Washington, they’ll stay there.

— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) July 30, 2020

The Phillies were to face the Blue Jays this weekend, but it now appears that series is in question. Blue Jays skipper Charlie Montoyo told Toronto writers that his club wasn't coming to Philadelphia and that the weekend series is postponed.

“We all recognized that this season was going to present a lot of challenges for all parties involved," general manager Matt Klentak said on Wednesday. "Players, teams -- everybody was going to need to be flexible. Now, it’s one thing to say that, but you don’t know how that is going to manifest itself. It’s another thing to contend with it as it is happening in real time, which is what the Phillies and the league are facing this week.”

Major League Baseball has yet to announce anything official regarding a schedule change.
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BY PATRICK GORDON
Managing Editor
pgordon@philadelphiabaseballreview.com