After Reds player tests positive for coronavirus, two games postponed

The last two games of a series between the Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park, set for Saturday and Sunday, were postponed after a Cincinnati player tested positive for the coronavirus.

The Reds join the Marlins and Cardinals with games called off because of positive tests on their roster, creating a ripple effect through the schedule that has limited some teams to a handful of games.

Major League Baseball was awaiting further test results and doing contact tracing to gauge the extent of the concerns. The Reds had one player sidelined earlier this season after a coronavirus test that later turned out to be a false positive.

• Most of the 17 Marlins players sidelined by a coronavirus outbreak have been approved to return to the field.

The team said Saturday those cleared will begin rehabilitation workouts and could be activated next week.

The group includes pitcher Sandy Alcantara, shortstop Miguel Rojas and eight relievers who were on the Opening Day roster. Despite their absence, the Marlins lead the NL East.

Strasburg hurting: Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg was placed on the injured list because of a nerve issue in his hand, carpal tunnel neuritis.

Strasburg made his 2020 debut by pitching 4 ⅓ innings against Baltimore last Sunday, but he was removed from his start Friday in the first inning. He signed a seven-year, $245 million deal in December.

“His thumb just goes numb. There’s like tingling in there. And they said it’s from his wrist,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Friday. “I’m going to do everything I can to take care of him. I don’t want to see him out there shaking his hand in pain. I think the best thing right now is to kind of shut him down and see if we can get this straightened out.”

Surgery needed: Tigers first baseman C.J. Cron will have season-ending knee surgery after tearing a ligament while fielding a ball Monday, manager Ron Gardenhire said. Cron, who signed a one-year contract with the team in December, hit .190 with four homers and eight RBIs in 13 games after hitting .253 with 25 homers and 78 RBIs for the Twins last season.

• White Sox second baseman Leury Garcia will have season-ending surgery to repair a severed thumb ligament, MLB.com reported. Garcia hit .271 with three homers and eight RBIs in 16 games this season.

Injury report: Padres closer Kirby Yates was placed on the IL and was to have an MRI exam because of an elbow issue, the San Diego Union Tribune reported. ... Other players landing on the IL were Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña (wrist), Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (quadriceps), Dodgers catcher Will Smith (neck inflammation), Tigers right-hander Ivan Nova (right triceps tendinitis), Nationals second baseman Starlin Castro (broken wrist), Rays reliever Jose Alvarado (shoulder inflammation) and White Sox reliever Ian Hamilton (shoulder).