Multiple unvaccinated Red Sox won’t travel to Toronto

BOSTON — Manager Alex Cora said the Boston Red Sox will be without some players for the upcoming series against the Toronto Blue Jays in Canada.

On Monday, Cora announced that the catcher Kevin Plawecki and two staff members have tested positive for COVID-19.

Cora said he also hopes to be without several unvaccinated players.

The starting pitcher Tanner Houck told The Boston Globe on Sunday that he is not vaccinated against COVID-19 and will not pitch during the four-game series that begins April 25. He would have been in line to start the second game.

To enter Canada, the Canadian government requires that a person have received a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, or a dose from Johnson & Johnson, at least 14 days prior to entry.

“I’m down because I’m not going to be able to make that start,” said Houck (1-0), who has made two starts this season, including a win over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday at Fenway Park.

Cora was asked after an 8-1 win over the Twins on Sunday if he expected to lose any other players.

“Yes,” Cora said. She was not asked a follow-up question and then she ended the press conference.

When previously asked about Houck, Cora said, “We knew about it beforehand, so we’ll plan accordingly.”

Players sidelined for COVID-19 vaccine issues are not paid and do not accrue Major League service time while on the restricted list.

The Oakland Athletics placed wide receiver Austin Allen and left-handers AJ Puk and Kirby Snead on the restricted list for their series in Toronto this weekend.

“I think it’s a personal choice for everyone, whether they get it or not,” Houck told the Globe.

Major League Baseball is not alone in this matter when it comes to travel to Canada. The Philadelphia 76ers will not have the guard Matisse Thybulle when their Eastern Conference playoff series against the Toronto Raptors heads north for Games 3 and 4.

Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Multiple unvaccinated Red Sox won’t travel to Toronto