Guardians-White Sox game postponed due to multiple positive COVID-19 tests

Multiple positive tests for COVID-19 within the Cleveland organization forced the postponement of the Guardians game against the Chicago White Sox scheduled for 2:10 p.m. Wednesday at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Manager Terry Francona, bench coach DeMarlo Hale, other coaches and some members of the support staff tested positive, according to team spokesman Bart Swain.

A statement from Major League Baseball said the game was postponed to allow for continued testing and contact tracing.

It was announced earlier in the day that  Francona had tested positive and that Hale would take over for Francona in the finale of the three-game series.

The Guardians (15-15) have a day off Thursday before opening a three-game series Friday night in Minnesota against the American League Central-leading Twins. The Guardians had previously said Hale will direct the team in the "near term."

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In his second season with the Guardians, Hale also worked under Francona with the Boston Red Sox from 2006-2011.

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Francona, 63, has missed games due to health issues the previous two seasons.

In 2021, he was forced to step away due to a painful toe problem that involved a staph infection and required surgery. Also undergoing a hip replacement, Francona was absent for the final 63 games beginning on July 30 and Hale directed the team to a 30-33 record over the final two months.

In 2020, Francona managed only 14 games as he dealt with multiple health concerns, including a blood-clotting issue and a gastrointestinal problem that returned in 2021. First base coach Sandy Alomar took over as Cleveland finished second in the AL Central.