Nationals Player, Staffer Added to COVID Protocols; Braves Series to Start Tues.

Continued issues with COVID-19 has delayed the start of the Washington Nationals season once again.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Sunday one player and one staff member were added to the COVID protocols list. Monday's game against the Atlanta Braves has been postponed, with the series set to open on Tuesday:

The Nationals had no new positive tests Sunday but have had four people test positive for COVID-19 while seven additional players are in quarantine as a result of close contacts, per Jessica Camerato of MLB.com.

The team's entire first series against the New York Mets was postponed.

Rizzo said the "majority" of players quarantining would have made the Opening Day roster.

MLB dealt with multiple team-wide outbreaks of COVID-19 during last year's shortened season, notably with the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals. Both cases led to the postponement of multiple series.

Washington's positive tests are already creating further scheduling issues to begin the 2021 season.