ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds are going to get plenty of work over the next two days.
The Reds and NL Central-leading Cardinals were rained out Friday night, setting up back-to-back doubleheaders this weekend. The teams will play day-night doubleheaders on both Saturday and Sunday.
A rainout in St. Louis in early June forced a makeup as part of Saturday’s twinbill.
The Cardinals lead the Chicago Cubs by one game in the division.
Four games in two days aren’t ideal for a team trying to hold onto first place, Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said.
“I mean it is what it is,” he said. “We’ll get a couple more pitchers on Sunday. Potentially have another guy tomorrow. I think either way you’re looking at a lot of games in a short period of time.”
“If we had played this game in some sort of delay tonight, you’re looking at four games in 30 hours. At least now, we know we’re out of here, get some rest and be ready to go,” he said.
Both teams will benefit from the annual September roster call-up on Sunday. The Reds didn’t announce their starters for that doubleheader, knowing they’ll have some flexibility.
The Cardinals announced they go with Miles Mikolas and Daniel Ponce de Leon on Sunday.
The Reds arrived in St. Louis at 3 a.m. following a night game in Miami and were quick to leave Busch Stadium.
GAME TIME
The Cardinals moved their originally scheduled game Sunday up to 12:05 p.m. from 1:15 p.m. The second game is slated for 6:05 p.m.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cardinals: Put rookie OF Lane Thomas (right wrist fracture) on the 10-day IL, retroactive to August 28. Thomas was hit by a pitch Tuesday at Milwaukee but remained in the game. Initial tests failed to show a fracture, but a CT scan Thursday revealed the injury. He’s likely to miss the remainder of the regular season…. The Cardinals activated OF Tyler O’Neill (left wrist strain) from the 10-day IL. He went 6 for 22 during his rehab in the minors.
UP NEXT
Reds RHP Trevor Bauer (10-11, 4.34) gets the start in Game 1 of the Saturday day-night doubleheader. Bauer dropped his last three decisions and the Reds have only won one of his five starts after his trade from Cleveland. St. Louis goes with RHP Dakota Hudson (13-6, 3.47). He’s won his last three decisions.
Reds RHP Sonny Gray (10-6, 2.92) starts Game 2 and seeks his fifth straight win and his sixth in his past seven starts. He faces Cardinals RHP Michael Wacha (6-6, 5.24), who has lasted five innings only once in his last five starts and hasn’t won a start since June 24.