Saturday's rainout offers Braves' arms much-needed rest

NEW YORK -- Mother Nature may have again benefited the Braves when Saturday’s game against the Mets was postponed by rain. The game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader on Aug. 12 at Citi Field.

With the postponement, each of the Braves’ starting pitchers will get the extra day of rest they weren’t slated to get during this turn. Atlanta’s bullpen also gets a second straight day of rest. This relief corps remained idle during Friday night’s 4-0 rain-shortened win.

This is good news, considering the Braves’ bullpen was taxed Thursday, when a three-hour rain delay in Atlanta limited starting pitcher Kyle Wright to just three innings.

As for the Mets, Max Scherzer will no longer be an option during this current series against the Braves. Scherzer was scheduled to pitch in Monday’s series finale. But now, his 10-game suspension for a sticky substance violation won’t expire until after this current series concludes.

An extra day of rest could benefit Braves flamethrower Spencer Strider, who will now face the Mets on Sunday, instead of Saturday. Strider threw 101 pitches while completing a season-high eight innings and coming five outs away from a no-hitter against the Marlins on Monday.

The Braves will also push Charlie Morton back a day to face the Mets on Monday. As for Bryce Elder, he’ll now face a familiar opponent when the Braves open a three-game series in Miami on Tuesday. This will be Elder’s 15th career start and the sixth he’s made against the Marlins.