The MLB season kicked off less than a week ago, but COVID-19 cases are already being spotted over quite a few teams. Currently, there are already 4 teams that have at least one player with the virus.
There is already immense concern surrounding the MLB season because the Miami Marlins have a total of 17 reported cases within the team. Their number of cases is jarring and has required them to postpone multiple games. Not only does this jeopardize Miami’s season, but it also makes you wonder if the MLB season will have to be canceled because of the outbreak among teams.
The Marlins have played a total of five games within the past week, and they have used the visitor locker rooms of the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies. Their series against the Phillies ended three days ago, but the Marlins players cannot fly out of Philadelphia because they tested positive for COVID-19. This puts the Phillies in a predicament because they may be subject to an outbreak within the team, much like the Marlins.
In light of this, the MLB has opted to force the Phillies to also postpone their next few games in order to receive additional testing. Despite playing the Marlins during Spring Training one week ago, the Braves are continuing to play their schedule. This is worrisome because the Braves could be under similar circumstances to the Phillies and be unintentionally plaguing other teams.
Ultimately, we are not even a full week into this MLB season and it is already beginning to spiral out of control. With the season progressing like this, the MLB season may have to be canceled within the next few weeks because the virus can easily spread to every team.
While it has been exciting to watch sports again, the MLB may have underestimated the sheer difficulty of safely traveling from one COVID-19 hot spot to another so frequently. If you look at how the NBA is handling their season and compare it to how the MLB has handled its season, you will see a drastic difference in rules and precautions.
For example, the NBA chose one location that will be the setting for all its games and forced all teams to quarantine around that location. This seems to be the best way to play a season during the pandemic because it lowers the risk of a team dealing with an outbreak of COVID-19. Meanwhile, the MLB has chosen to force teams to travel nonstop and expose their players to the virus.