Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals players went to casino before positive coronavirus tests?

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 8/3/20

Some St. Louis Cardinals players may have broken MLB health and safety recommendations ahead of the team experiencing a coronavirus outbreak that left its season in question.

St. Louis hasn't played since last Wednesday due to multiple players returning positive coronavirus test results, and the club's Monday showdown versus the Detroit Tigers was also postponed. MLB insider Jon Heyman reported that "at least a couple" of Cardinals players visited a casino, which led to MLB "tightening" a rule about personnel leaving team hotels while on the road.

At least a couple Cardinals did go to a Casino, as @TheRealJHair 1st suggested. MLB has since tightened its rule on leaving the team hotel from very strongly discouraged to not allowed. Cards Covid count going into today: 3 players, 4 staff
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 3, 2020

Epidemiologist Zachary Binney added:

-Was casino, risky behavior outbreak source? Index infections detected Wednesday could've *easily*, even likely, happened in STL (which they left Monday, I'd guess?).

-Not leaving hotel: good, should've been this way from the start. Leaving puts markets like NY, PHI at risk. https://t.co/aaLu44TKJr
— Zachary Binney (@zbinney_NFLinj) August 3, 2020

While leagues such as the NBA and NHL isolated teams inside "bubble" sites for return to play scenarios, MLB and the MLB Players Association agreed that everyone needed to complete games would travel to in-market ballparks. This plan was widely scrutinized even before the Miami Marlins experienced a virus outbreak after some players were allegedly "careless" while on the road for an exhibition contest against the Atlanta Braves.

Neither the Marlins nor Philadelphia Phillies, who hosted the Marlins over the campaign's opening weekend, have played since July 26. Philadelphia is scheduled to face the New York Yankees Monday night.

MLB had already warned players and coaches about following protocols after some offered high fives and fist pumps during and after exhibition games. Those warnings fell on deaf ears, though, and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred told MLBPA executive director Tony Clark on Friday that the league could suspend or cancel the season upon the discovery of a new virus outbreak.

More must-reads: