Bad news today out of the Braves-Brewers NLDS, with old friend Jorge Soler off the Braves’ roster in advance of Game 4.
Soler tested positive for COVID-19:
Outfielder Cristian Pache has replaced Jorge Soler on the @Braves NLDS roster, it was announced today by @MLB. pic.twitter.com/vMJtCPkNKE
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) October 12, 2021
The timing couldn’t be worse for Soler and the Braves, who are looking to close out the series today at home, or Thursday in Milwaukee, if necessary. Now they won’t have Soler for either game, and he will hopefully otherwise recover and can return for the NLCS after negative tests. Pache, 22, is a stud defensively, but he won’t offer anything with the bat. Kinda the reverse of Soler.
There’s also the question of spread in the Braves’ clubhouse. As we saw most recently with the Cubs, having just one positive case can be the canary in the coal mine, with others to follow. Stay tuned.