WASHINGTON -- Due to severe weather predictions in the local forecast, the Rockies and Nationals had their scheduled game postponed Friday night. The teams will play a split doubleheader Saturday, with Game 1 scheduled for 12:05 p.m. ET and Game 2 for 6:05 p.m. 

"Due to very severe weather predicted to move into the area this evening, MLB has approved the postponement of tonight’s game,” the Nationals said in a statement.

The teams were originally scheduled to continue their four-game weekend set Friday night, preparing to do so up until less than half an hour before the scheduled first pitch. Rockies scheduled starter Austin Gomber was warming up in the bullpen when the postponement was finalized around 6:40 p.m. local time. It had not rained in the Navy Yard area of Washington since earlier in the afternoon, but forecasts called for heavy rainfall beginning in the 7 p.m. hour and continuing throughout the night. 

Tickets and parking passes for Friday’s game will be honored for Saturday’s first game, including for fans who had already entered Nationals Park prior to Friday’s postponement. The Nationals invite ticketed fans who cannot attend Saturday’s make-up to call the Nationals ticket office. 

The rainout did not alter either team’s pitching plans. Gomber (2-4, 4.11) and Nationals righty Aaron Sanchez (3-3, 7.16) will now face off Saturday instead of Friday, in Game 1. Right-handers Chad Kuhl (3-2, 3.67) and Joan Adon (1-8, 6.97) were already slated for Saturday and will now oppose one another in Game 2. 

The Rockies dropped the first game of this series 7-3 on Thursday night behind an ineffective German Marquez, and 13 of 17 overall after starting the season 16-11. They’ve lost 12 of their last 14 away from Coors Field, averaging 2.4 runs per game in that span.