Report: Nats expect to be without Schwarber, Lester, Harrison, Avila

The Washington Nationals expect to be without Kyle Schwarber, Jon Lester, Josh Harrison, and Alex Avila - among others - if the team returns to action early next week, sources told Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post.

The Nationals have not experienced any more positive COVID-19 tests since the outbreak began, general manager Mike Rizzo said, according to Jessica Camerato of MLB.com.

Four players have tested positive while seven other players and two staff members are in quarantine due to close contacts, Camerato adds.

However, Schwarber's, Lester's, Harrison's, and Avila's potential absences do not necessarily mean they've tested positive for COVID-19 or are in isolation. The team has neither announced which players have tested positive nor who is isolating as a close contact.

Washington's weekend series against the New York Mets was postponed due to the outbreak. The earliest the Nationals can play is Monday when the Atlanta Braves are scheduled to open a three-game set at Nationals Park.

It remains to be seen who the Nationals will call upon to fill the void, but Washington reportedly signed veteran catcher Jonathan Lucroy on Saturday night, according to Mark Zuckerman of MASN.

Rizzo said Friday that a number of players from the Nationals' alternate training site will replace the missing players.

Major League Baseball has not yet given the club the go-ahead to play Monday.