Mike Clevinger won't start Tuesday after Indians learn he went out with Zach Plesac

Cleveland starter Mike Clevinger flew home with his teammates despite knowing he had broken the club's COVID-19 protocols by going out with righthander Zach Plesac during the team's weekend trip to Chicago, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Clevinger did not admit he had broken the rules during a team meeting Sunday to discuss Plesac violating the team's code of conduct, said the person. The Indians said Clevinger will be quarantined and tested and will not make his scheduled start Tuesday vs. the Cubs.

Cleveland arranged for a car service for Plesac so he wouldn't be around his teammates in case he had contracted the coronavirus while out with friends on Saturday following his victory over the White Sox.

Clevinger didn't acknowledge his misstep to the club and took the team flight despite knowing he was putting his teammates and staff at risk.

The idea of traveling to a coronavirus hot spot played a factor in New York Mets righthander Marcus Stroman's decision Monday to opt out of the 2020 season.

"Obviously, you see the Cardinals, the Marlins, you see spikes everywhere in the country, you see protocols not being handled properly from citizens everywhere," Stroman said during a Zoom call. "You see us going to Florida soon. That was a big discussion I had with my family. Going to see the Marlins soon, that's something I don't want to be in that situation."

Stroman was close to making his season debut, having recovered from a torn left calf muscle. Instead he became the second Mets player to opt out this month. Designated hitter Yoenis Cespedes left the team Aug. 2.

Oakland outfielder Ramon Laureano said Houston hitting coach Alex Cintron made a crude remark about his mother that prompted a benches-clearing incident Sunday, and Athletics manager Bob Melvin wants Cintron punished harshly by Major League Baseball.

Laureano said Monday he regrets charging toward Houston's dugout to fight Cintron after the two exchanged words. Laureano said Cintron began jawing at him when Laureano reacted angrily after being hit by a pitch from Houston rookie Humberto Castellanos.

"I should have kept my cool because I wasted my time with that guy," Laureano said. "Right now, I don't look like a smart guy, but when you are emotional and someone says something about your mother, I don't think anyone would take that lightly."

Laureano and Cintron are expected to be suspended by MLB, but no announcement was made Monday regarding punishment.

A doubleheader between the St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers scheduled for Thursday is being postponed to allow more time for additional COVID-19 testing.

• Tony Petitti is leaving Major League Baseball after 12 years to become president of sports and entertainment for video game company Activision Blizzard Inc. He is one of two deputy commissioners under Commissioner Rob Manfred.

• Tampa Bay put righthander Charlie Morton on the 10-day injured list because of inflammation in his pitching shoulder, one day after the two-time All-Star left a start in the third inning.