The Atlanta Braves will be without their top two catchers, Tyler Flowers and Travis d'Arnaud, for Friday's season opener against the host New York Mets after both players showed symptoms of the coronavirus.
Braves manager Brian Snitker said Friday that Flowers and d'Arnaud have tested negative for the coronavirus but did not travel with the team for the 4 p.m. game because they had symptoms. Snitker said he did not know what the symptoms were, and he hoped the two just had "a bad cold."
He added that the team is being careful because "we've had guys test negative and the next day they test positive."
First baseman Freddie Freeman and right-handed pitcher Touki Toussaint are back with the team and on the opening-day roster after testing positive at the start of summer training camp. Left-handed reliever Will Smith and infielder Pete Kozma have not returned since positive tests.
Freeman said he was grateful Flowers and Contreras reported the symptoms even though it meant they would miss the opener and possibly more games. After the three-game weekend series against the Mets, the Braves remain on the road for a two-game set at Tampa Bay before hosting the Rays next Wednesday and Thursday.
"I applaud them for being truthful," Freeman said. "It's tough when you lose your (main) two catchers, but no one is going to feel sorry for us. The Nationals didn't have Juan Soto last night."
AP file photo by John Bazemore / Atlanta Braves catcher Tyler FlowersSnitker said the team was trying to avoid contact between the catchers and other players in case they do have positive tests.
Alex Jackson and William Contreras are next in line at catcher. Jackson was listed as the starter for Friday's opening game.
The Braves also are without left-handed pitcher Cole Hamels, who was placed on the 45-day injured list with left triceps tendinitis. Major League Baseball teams are playing a 60-game regular season schedule due to the pandemic, but the playoff field will be larger than usual.
"If he gets back in September, great," Snitker said. "Hopefully he can get back and help us."
Snitker called Jackson "a very solid catcher" who hit "a couple homers" in summer camp.
"He should be feeling good about himself," said Snitker, who added that Flowers and d'Arnaud will continue to be tested.
"I don't know if it's not just a bad cold, but in these times you're cautious," Snitker said. "If this happened a year ago, you'd bring them in and treat them and they'd probably still be available."