Alex Cora, Boston Red Sox set to ‘plan accordingly’ without multiple unvaccinated players in Toronto

Manager Alex Cora said the Boston Red Sox expect to be without multiple unvaccinated players for an upcoming series against the Toronto Blue Jays in Canada.

Starting pitcher Tanner Houck told the Boston Globe on Sunday that he is not vaccinated against COVID-19 and won’t pitch during the four-game series beginning Monday, April 25. He would have been in line to start the second game.

To enter Canada, the Canadian government requires a person must have received a second COVID-19 vaccine dose—or one dose of Johnson & Johnson—at least 14 days prior to entry.

“I’m bummed that I won’t be able to make that start,” said Houck (1-0), who has been sharp in two starts this season, including a win over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday at Fenway Park.

Brandon Nimmo, Mark Canha test positive for COVID before Mets home opener

Brandon Nimmo and Mark Canha both tested positive for COVID-19 Friday morning, according to The Post’s Mike Puma, and will be out for the 1:05 p.m. game against the Diamondbacks.

Nimmo, along with Dominic Smith, was a notable absence from the lineup after a team staffer tested positive. The Post’s Mike Puma reported before the lineup was released that there would be “noticeable differences” after the positive test.

Smith and Nimmo were two of the Mets players who declined to say if they were vaccinated before the season started, though it is unclear if that is the reason for Smith’s absence in the lineup.

Unvaccinated MLB players won’t be paid for missed games in Canada

With the Major League Baseball season set to start, unvaccinated players will once again need to sit out series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Players who haven’t been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will not be able to play in Toronto.

In addition, unvaccinated players won’t be paid for games or service time for the entirety of a series played north of the border. Each day spent on a baseball club’s active roster or injured list represents one day of service time.

Current vaccination guidelines still doesn’t allow foreign unvaccinated travellers to cross the Canadian border. Athletes no longer have special status in order to travel without having taken the vaccine after the federal government revoked the exemption on Jan. 15.

Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi reports the subject was “a significant point” in players’ CBA discussions with “a few teams” taking issue before ultimately relenting.”

MLB won’t require minor league players to be vaccinated against COVID-19

Major League Baseball will not require minor league players to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to play in 2022 but will mandate on-field staff working with players be “up-to-date” on vaccinations, according to a memo sent to teams Thursday morning and obtained by ESPN.

Suggestion for the new COVID thread? The Tom Gordon one has predictably turned political so we need one that is more or less pandemic-focused.