The Phillies’ quest to get back to .500 on Sunday took a turn even before they took the field at Fenway Park.
Just hours before first pitch, the team announced that ace Aaron Nola, third baseman Alec Bohm, and relievers Connor Brogdon and Bailey Falter were placed on the COVID-19 restricted list for its season finale against the Red Sox.
Nola was scheduled to start Sunday’s matinee.
In subsequent roster moves, the Phillies recalled infielder Nick Maton and relievers Damon Jones, Mauricio Llovera, and Cristopher Sanchez from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
The Phillies have not reached the 85% vaccination threshold for players and staff that would allow them to ease up on COVID restrictions. The team has not made the vaccine mandatory.
“Obviously, you’d like to have more freedoms,” Phillies manager Joe Girardi, who is vaccinated, said last month. “I think we all would. I think we all get tired of wearing our masks in situations. I would like to go back to be able to go back to normal. But it’s not going to happen, it looks, any time soon for us unless Major League Baseball changes some of their protocols.”
