Report: Nationals-Braves postponed due to COVID-19, teams aim to play Tuesday

The start of the Washington Nationals' 2021 season has been pushed back once again because their Monday game against the Atlanta Braves has also been postponed, sources told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

The aim is for the game to be made up on Tuesday at Nationals Park, Rosenthal adds.

The news follows the Nationals' entire opening series against the New York Mets being postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the team. The three-game set has yet to be rescheduled.

When the Nationals are cleared to play, they're expected to be without left-hander Jon Lester, outfielder Kyle Schwarber, infielder Josh Harrison, and catcher Alex Avila, among others.

If the Nats and Braves are given clearance to play on Tuesday, it seems likely the game would be made up as part of a seven-inning doubleheader.

Major League Baseball introduced rules in 2020 to help with any scheduling issues the ongoing coronavirus pandemic causes. While the universal designated hitter wasn't kept for 2021, the seven-inning doubleheader and extra-innings baserunner remain.