Nationals Vs. Braves: A Belated Opening Day 2021 In D.C.

WASHINGTON, DC — The 2021 Major League Baseball season was scheduled to get underway for the Washington Nationals last Thursday night. But then several Nationals players tested positive for the coronavirus, throwing opening day into disarray for the Nationals.

After a series of tests and placing the infected players and close contacts into quarantine, the Nationals are now ready to play ball. The Nats are scheduled to play their first game of the 2021 season against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, with first pitch scheduled for 4:05 p.m.

The rescheduled Opening Day for the Nats will feature future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer taking the mound for the 2019 World Series champions against Braves lefty Drew Smyly.

The Nats and Braves will make up their game that was postponed Monday as part of a doubleheader Wednesday. The Braves are heading into Washington with an 0-3 record after getting swept by the Phillies in their first series of the season.

Four players on the Nationals have tested positive for COVID-19 and seven more have been placed under quarantine after contact tracing determined they potentially were exposed. None of the infected players are showing severe symptoms, according to reports.

Among the big names on the Nats roster who are not expected to play in the Braves series are Josh Bell, Yan Gomes, Kyle Schwarber, Josh Harrison and Brad Hand. Each of these players is currently in quarantine because of COVID-19 protocols, though the Nats have not disclosed who tested positive or who was a close contact of an infected person.

The Nationals are expected to re-raise the 2019 World Series championship flag in Center Field Plaza, where an empty pole currently stands. In other pre-game ceremonies, outfielder Juan Soto will be presented with the 2020 National League batting title and Silver Slugger awards.

After the three-game home series against the Braves, the team is scheduled to head west to play the Dodgers in a three-game series starting Friday, April 9 at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles followed by a three-game stand in St. Louis against the Cardinals. Visit the Nationals website to see the team's season schedule.

RELATED: Nationals Opening Day Game Against Mets Postponed Due To COVID-19

Bob Carpenter and F.P. Santangelo return to the broadcast booth for their 11th season together to provide fans play-by-play and color analysis during the Nationals telecasts on MASN. All regular season games on MASN will be preceded by a 30-minute "Nats Xtra" pregame show, with a 30-minute "Nats Xtra" postgame show immediately following each game.

And the popular team of Charlie Slowes and Dave Jageler are back on 106.7 The Fan to provide radio play-by-play for each game.

At Nats Park, the District of Columbia will allow 5,000 fans inside the stadium to start the season.

Face coverings are required for all those ages 2 and older inside Nats Park. Bandanas, gaiters or masks with an exhalation valve will not be permitted. Disposable face coverings will be available at the gates for those who arrive without one, or who have a face covering that does not meet requirements.

The only time the removal of the face coverings is permitted is when fans are eating or drinking at their seating pod. If fans do not follow the face-covering policy, they will receive a verbal warning and then can be removed from the stadium.

Seats are being sold at Nats Park in pods of one to six people, not including suites, and there are a maximum of three pods per row spaced out by at least 6 feet.

Fans can purchase tickets by calling 202-675-NATS (6287), or emailing ticketinfo@nationals.com. The team is prioritizing season plan ticket holders while the seating capacity remains extremely limited at the start of the season. For ticket information, visit nationals.com/2021ticketinfo.