The Phillies are without All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto for Thursday afternoon’s series finale in Washington.
Realmuto has been placed into COVID-19 protocol. Catcher Rafael Marchan was added to the roster.
Realmuto missed Wednesday night’s game with a leg contusion. Manager Joe Girardi said he hoped that Realmuto would play Thursday, but the player felt ill Wednesday night.
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“All his tests are fine,” Girardi said late Thursday morning. “He came down with a stomachache and a fever during the game last night so he’s in COVID protocol. His tests have been negative. But when you get those symptoms, you’re in protocol.
“You have to submit that [to the league]. You can’t let someone with a stomachache and a small fever walk around your clubhouse today. In a normal year, you wouldn’t worry about it, but you can’t do that now.
“The protocol is through the league. I’m not sure when we’ll get him back.”
Girardi said Realmuto would not travel with the team to Tampa on Thursday night. The Phils open a three-game series against the Blue Jays in Dunedin on Friday night.
MLB
Could Realmuto be out a few days?
“It’s possible,” Girardi said. “He’ll be tested and tested and we’ll go from there.”
Shortstop Didi Gregorius was also out of Thursday’s lineup with a sore right elbow.
“We’re hoping it’s just a couple of days,” Girardi said.
The Phillies will look for a three-game sweep of the Nationals with this lineup:
1. Andrew McCutchen, LF
2. Jean Segura, 2B
3. Bryce Harper, RF
4. Rhys Hoskins, 1B
5. Alec Bohm, 3B
6. Odubel Herrera, CF
7. Andrew Knapp, C
8. Nick Maton, SS
9. Zach Eflin, P
More: No sweep for Phillies, but they'll take a series win on the road
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