- The Miami Marlins had a total of 14 players and coaches test positive for the coronavirus.
- The game between the Miami Marlins and Baltimore Orioles has been postponed.
- Monday’s game between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies was also postponed due to the outbreak.
- Betting odds on the season being affected by COVID-19 have already been graded on some sportsbooks.
PHILADELPHIA — The Miami Marlins wrapped up their opening series over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday with a win. However, the celebration would be short-lived, since 14 players and coaches on the Marlins tested positive for the coronavirus.
This caused the team to stay in Philadelphia to quarantine as the MLB works to figure out what steps to take next.
This marks the first major COVID-19 outbreak in the MLB and comes only three days after the regular season started. While MLB sportsbooks were on track with this type of result, a nice profit on +300 odds has already been made.
MLB Team Postpone/Cancel/Forfeit A Game Due To COVID-19
- No -500
- Yes +300
These odds were listed before MLB’s Opening Day and gave MLB fans a negative direction in how the season will play out.
The postponements also impacted the Phillies' upcoming series against the New York Yankees as their visitor’s clubhouse which the Marlins were using must be made safe for opposing clubs to use again.
Statement from MLB pic.twitter.com/nP1xvOe8hU
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 27, 2020
The Phillies are taking the necessary steps to stop the spread of the virus as they’ve placed all of their staff in quarantine until they receive the results of the most recent COVID-19 tests.
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For Yankees fans, the season isn’t completely derailed so feel comfortable taking the pinstripes +550 odds to win the World Series which are the second shortest of any team.
The #Marlins had 4 confirmed cases from Friday testing and the game in Philly was still played yesterday. So it is not just Mia personnel who were exposed. It was those with the #Phillies, umpires, anyone who had access to the field, etc.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 27, 2020
Will the MLB Season Get Cancelled?
The power to end the MLB season lies directly in the hands of commissioner Rob Manfred and he has not hinted at the possibility of stopping play yet.
With just four teams being impacted by the first string of positive tests, the MLB’s return to play protocols are being tested early. With no bubble in place the onus is on the players to be responsible and on the teams to provide a safe playing space.
Furthermore, with over a dozen Marlins players and coaches that have tested positive, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more players opting out of playing the rest of the season. With so much money on the line here, it’s unlikely that Manfred will end the season but without a bubble in place like the NBA and MLS is doing it's unlikely that these will be the last positive tests the MLB will see.
While two MLB games won’t be played there will still be 10 MLB games to bet on with the first game on the slate beginning at 3:40 p.m. ET.
As a professional sports writer, Robert has written for outlets such as the FAMUAN and other sports-centric platforms. He focuses mainly on NFL and NBA betting, though he keeps tabs on every major sport.
