Nats-Reds game postponed, day-night doubleheader Saturday

With one round of rain having already swept through shortly before scheduled first pitch and another round expected later this evening, the Nationals' game against the Reds has been postponed.

The game will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader on Saturday, with the makeup game now at 1:05 p.m. and a separate ticket required for the originally scheduled 7:05 p.m. game.

Gio Gonzalez and Anthony DeSclafani, tonight's scheduled starting pitchers, will take the mound for the 1:05 p.m. game. Jeremy Hellickson and Matt Harvey will meet as planned in the nightcap.

A large crowd had already gathered for tonight's game and Anthony Rendon bobblehead giveaway, and some booed when the postponement was announced at 6:45 p.m. The skies actually cleared after 7 p.m., but with another round of rain forecast for later in the evening, officials decided not to attempt to start the game and instead called it off.

Fans with tickets for tonight's postponed game can use them for Saturday's 1:05 p.m. game or exchange them for a future game (though the exchange must be made prior to the start of Saturday's opener).

Gates for the nightcap will open 1 1/2 hours following the final out of the opener, or 6 p.m., whichever is later. A separate ticket is required for the second game.

This rainout leaves the Nationals in an unappealing situation, now forced to play five games in four days, with a tangible impact on their pitching staff.

As things now stand, the Nats and Reds will play two games Saturday, then wrap up the series Sunday at 1:35 p.m. After a day off Monday, the Nationals and Braves open a four-game series with a day-night doubleheader Tuesday (the byproduct of another rainout last month), then play regularly scheduled games Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. and Thursday at 1:05 p.m. before heading on a seven-game road trip to Chicago and St. Louis.

At some point during this homestand, the Nationals will need to add a starting pitcher as a result of the doubleheaders. With Gonzalez and Hellickson starting Saturday, they figure to start Tanner Roark as planned in Sunday's series finale against Cincinnati.

Tommy Milone would be on turn Tuesday against the Braves, though Max Scherzer also could return on normal rest to pitch one game of the Tuesday doubleheader. That, however, would leave a hole for Wednesday's game, with another starter needed to take that spot before Gonzalez or Hellickson could return on normal rest Thursday.