CHICAGO — With steady rain falling all afternoon at Wrigley Field and more predicted to fall throughout the evening in Chicago, the Nationals and Cubs game Monday night was postponed. The teams will play a makeup game Thursday at 2:20 p.m. EDT.
Thursday was a mutual off day for both teams. The Nationals were previously scheduled to remain in Chicago for much of the day anyway, before flying to Philadelphia in the afternoon. A day-night doubleheader on either Tuesday or Wednesday was discussed but the decision to move the game to Thursday was the preferred one.
“We’d probably get to Phily about the same time as we would normally,” said Nationals manager Davey Johnson. “There was some conversation about a split but I think everybody wanted to do what we’re doing, rather than a split. I’m comfortable with Thursday.”
Both teams will keep their pitching on turn, bumping everyone back a day. That means Chien-Ming Wang will make his third start of the season Tuesday night against Chicago’s Matt Garza. Ross Detwiler will pitch Wednesday against Rodrigo Lopez and Jordan Zimmermann will take the ball in the makeup day game against Ryan Dempster.
An extra day of rest could be a good thing for Wang as he is still working himself back into form after missing over two years of major league time. Wang twice had an extra day of rest during his rehab assignment and Johnson said the reports from him from Triple-A pitching coach Greg Booker in those starts were good.
“It probably won’t hurt him,” Johnson said.
This is the Nationals’ first rainout since Johnson took over as manager on June 26.
