Cardinals-Braves game postponed due to rain, doubleheader scheduled for Saturday

ATLANTA — The game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves originally scheduled for Friday night has been postponed due to persistent rain.

The Cardinals, who are in second place in the NL Central, and the Braves, who are in second place in the NL East, will attempt to play a split doubleheader at Truist Park on Saturday. First pitch for the opener is scheduled for 1 p.m., with nightcap beginning at 7:20 p.m., though more rain is in the forecast.

Rain cut short the Cardinals’ pregame batting practice, forcing the grounds crew to put a tarp over the infield. The tarp was removed for only a few minutes before being pulled back over the infield shortly before the scheduled 7:20 p.m. first pitch. The postponement was announced at 9:30 p.m.

The opening game of the split doubleheader will feature a showdown between experienced right-handers. Kyle Gibson (7-3, 4.16) will start for St. Louis against Charlie Morton (5-5, 4.07). Gibson is 36 and Morton is 40.

The Braves plan to recall right-handed pitcher Bryce Elder from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Saturday night’s Game 2 against Cardinals right-handed pitcher Sonny Gray (9-6, 3.34).

Atlanta rookie Spencer Schwellenbach (3-4, 4.43 ERA), who was scheduled to start Friday night, has been pushed back to the final game of Sunday’s three-game series. The addition of Elder to the weekend series rotation gives Atlanta All-Star Max Fried extra rest before his next start. Fried was scheduled to start Sunday.

Cardinals: OF/IF Tommy Edman, who began a rehab assignment at Double-A Springfield on July 9, received a shot in his sprained ankle over the All-Star break. Edman is not scheduled to return to rehab games until Tuesday. … Manager Oliver Marmol said LHP Steven Matz (lower back injury) is scheduled to throw his second bullpen session in St. Louis on Saturday.

Braves: OF Ramón Laureano (sore back, left oblique) was cleared from the 10-day injured list but did not return as a starter. Manager Brian Snitker said Laureano can play left-handers and “is a good player for us.” … OF Michael Harris II (left hamstring strain)’s rehab remains “a slow process” until he is cleared to play, Snitker said. … OF Brian Anderson became a free agent after declining assignment to Triple-A Gwinnett. … RHP Ian Anderson is scheduled to make his first rehab start for Triple-A Gwinnett, and his fifth minor league rehab start overall, on Saturday as he continues his recovery from 2023 Tommy John surgery. Anderson, 26, has a 3.97 ERA in 52 career starts for Atlanta from 2020-22.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb