Reds-Cards rained out Friday; DH on Sunday

ST. LOUIS -- Already facing one doubleheader this weekend, the Cardinals will now have back-to-back doubleheaders against the Reds at Busch Stadium.

Friday’s game was postponed due to inclement weather throughout the night. It will be made up in a split doubleheader Sunday at 12:05 p.m. CT and 6:05 p.m., with Sunday’s originally scheduled game moved up an hour.

Fans who had tickets to Friday’s game should use those same tickets for Sunday night’s game. Gates for the second game will open at 4:35 p.m.

The Cardinals and Reds now will play four games in two days at Busch Stadium. The teams have a doubleheader Saturday, making up a postponed game from June 5 at 12:15 p.m., and will play an originally scheduled game at 6:15 p.m.

The last time St. Louis played back-to-back doubleheaders was July 21 and July 22, 1994, against Atlanta.

Dakota Hudson was scheduled to start Friday’s game and will be moved to the first game on Saturday. Michael Wacha will start the second game.

Miles Mikolas will start the first game on Sunday, and Daniel Ponce de Leon -- who was scheduled to start Saturday night’s game -- will be activated to start Sunday night’s game.

The Cardinals have the option to call up a 26th man for Saturday’s doubleheader, and that will most likely be a relief pitcher. Rosters expand on Sunday for all Major League teams, so the Cardinals will keep the 26th man on the roster and have enough players for Sunday’s doubleheader. The schedule change doesn’t affect who the Cardinals are planning on calling up Sunday, Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said.

Now, the Cardinals are looking at playing four games in less than 48 hours against the Reds, and they don’t get an off-day until Sept. 9.

“It is what it is,” Shildt said. “We’ll get a couple more pitchers 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 [Friday], you’re looking at four games in 30 hours.”

“At least now we know we’re out of here, and can get some rest and be ready to go.”