13 Cardinals Players, Staff Diagnosed with COVID-19; Series vs. Tigers Postponed

Major League Baseball has postponed a four-game series between the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals after 13 members of the Cardinals organization tested positive for COVID-19 in the last week. 

In a statement shared by ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Cardinals said they will stay in Milwaukee: 

St. Louis was originally supposed to play the Milwaukee Brewers before that series was postponed.

The Tigers said they'll continue working out at Comerica Park to prepare for their three-game set with the Pittsburgh Pirates, which begins Friday.

Former MLB player Jerry Hairston Jr. tweeted on Saturday that he spoke to sources who said some members of the Cardinals visited a casino prior to their outbreak. Jon Heyman of MLB Network corroborated the report and said "at least a couple Cardinals did go to a Casino."

Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak commented on the reports.

"I have no factual reason to believe that is true, and I have not seen any proof of that," he said, per Passan. "If they were at a casino, though, that would be disappointing."

Passan reported on July 29 that MLB was strengthening its health and safety protocols after the Miami Marlins experienced the first outbreak in the league. As part of the new rules, players would be encouraged not to leave their hotels while on the road.

The 13 positive tests for the Cardinals will likely lead some to question about whether MLB can continue to carry on with the 2020 season. Opening Day was on July 23 and already three teams (the Cardinals, Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies) have had to postpone at least a week's worth of games.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred reaffirmed his commitment to finishing the season when speaking with ESPN's Karl Ravech on Saturday.

"We are playing," Manfred said. "The players need to be better, but I am not a quitter in general and there is no reason to quit now. We have had to be fluid, but it is manageable."