Cardinals-Braves game is postponed because of rain, doubleheader planned for Saturday

ATLANTA (AP) — The game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves originally scheduled for Friday night was postponed because of persistent rain.

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

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

Atlanta’s Spencer Schwellenbach (3-4, 4.43 ERA) was scheduled to face Cardinals right-hander Sonny Gray (9-6, 3.34) on Friday night. The teams did not immediately announce their pitching plans for the split doubleheader.

Before the postponement, Saturday night’s scheduled called for matchup of veteran right-handers. Kyle Gibson (7-3, 4.16) was scheduled to start for St. Louis against Charlie Morton (5-5, 4.07). Gibson is 36 and Morton is 40.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: OF/IF Tommy Edman, who began a rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield on July 9, had an injection in his sprained ankle over the All-Star break. Edman won’t return to rehab games until Tuesday. ... Manager Oliver Marmol said LHP Steven Matz (lower back strain) is scheduled to throw his second bullpen session in St. Louis on Saturday.

Braves: OF Ramón Laureano (sore back, left oblique) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list but did not return as a starter. Manager Brian Snitker said Laureano could play against left-handers and is “a good piece for us.” ... The rehab of OF Michael Harris II (strained left hamstring) remains “a slow process” until he is cleared for games, according to Snitker. ... IF Brian Anderson became a free agent after declining his 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.

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