Guardians manager Terry Francona to miss fourth straight game due to COVID-19

The Cleveland Guardians returned home for a midweek two-game series against the Cincinnati Reds but were once again without a familiar face at Progressive Field on Tuesday evening.

According to The Associated Press, Guardians manager Terry Francona remained sidelined for a fourth consecutive game after he tested positive for COVID-19 last week amid a virus outbreak within the club. Francona, bench coach DeMarlo Hale, first-base coach Sandy Alomar, third-base coach Mike Sarbaugh, hitting coach Chris Valaika and two other assistants entered the health and safety protocols and were bused back to Cleveland this past Thursday before a three-game series at the Minnesota Twins.

First baseman Josh Naylor tested positive on Friday and was also unavailable through at least Tuesday night. 

Cleveland pitching coach Carl Willis is serving as acting manager in Francona's absence, and Valaika was cleared to return to work Tuesday. 

"He's feeling much better," Willis said of Francona Tuesday afternoon. "I think he's ready. Again, it's just a matter of when his numbers or the negative tests come in that he's cleared to rejoin us. But he's feeling much better."

Willis added that the rest of the coaches who were still out as of Tuesday were "all feeling much much better." He also said a couple of them were asymptomatic.

"There are protocols in place that we have to get to these numbers or consecutive negative test until they can rejoin us," Willis said. "Again, that's a fluid situation. I certainly hope they're cleared soon."

The 16-17 Guardians are third in the American League Central standings, while the Reds are 9-26 and hold the worst record in all of MLB.