Cardinals-Reds opener postponed; split doubleheader set for Saturday

The Cardinal Chronicle
Cardinals-Reds opener postponed; split doubleheader set for Saturday
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

Friday night’s series opener between the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park was postponed because of inclement weather, turning what was scheduled as the start of a three-game weekend series into a split doubleheader Saturday.

The postponed game will be made up Saturday as the first game of the doubleheader, with first pitch scheduled for 12:10 p.m. Central time. The regularly scheduled Saturday game remains unchanged and is still set for 6:15 p.m. Central time. Fans holding tickets for Friday night’s postponed game may use those same tickets for the makeup game, with no exchange necessary.

The rainout adds another layer to an already important NL Central weekend for St. Louis. Instead of opening the series under the lights Friday, the Cardinals will now face a long Saturday in Cincinnati, with two games, two pitching plans and a bullpen management puzzle that could shape the rest of the series.

Split doubleheaders are old baseball, and they still have a way of testing a club’s depth. The first game can set the tone. The second game can expose the roster. For a Cardinals team trying to steady itself through a divisional stretch, Saturday now becomes more than just another day on the schedule.

The Cardinals will have to navigate the quick turnaround carefully, especially with pitching usage. Any early bullpen strain in the opener could carry over into the nightcap, while a strong start in Game 1 could give St. Louis a chance to play the second game on better footing.

There is also the simple matter of rhythm. Rainouts interrupt routines, but contenders handle them. The Cardinals lost Friday night to the weather. Saturday gives them two chances to make sure they do not lose ground in the standings.

For more information on rainout policies, fans should visit the Reds’ rainout information page.

The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports
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