Chicago Cubs: Game postponed, setting up doubleheader on Saturday

After two lengthy delays Friday night, the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals postponed and will play a day-night doubleheader on Saturday.

Call the decision to start Friday night’s game between the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals what you want. Poor planning by the league? Perhaps. Regardless, in the midst of their 23 games in 23 days marathon, now Joe Maddon‘s club has a doubleheader slotted in.

Wonderful.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs should keep close eye on non-tender candidate Cody Bellinger
• Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shot
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups

More importantly, perhaps, is the fact the team essentially burned Jon Lester‘s spot in the rotation after he took the rubber for last night’s rainout. On Saturday, the team will hand the ball to veteran Jaime Garcia in the opener for his Cubs debut. In the nightcap, Cole Hamels squares off against Max Scherzer.

Chicago now faces the prospects of three games in two days against the Nationals, before immediately returning home and facing the Milwaukee Brewers for their final three head-to-head matchups of the regular season. Then, at long last, the Cubs get a badly needed day off.

Still, it’s not all bad. Chicago has played remarkably well in this stretch. According to Fangraphs, the Cubs hold a 91.6 percent chance of winning the division – and a strong showing against the Brewers early next week could be the nail in the coffin.

Speaking of Lester, after a tumultuous start to the second half, he’s settled in nicely. If the Cubs plan on making another run to the World Series, they’ll need their veteran lefty to be productive and lead the charge.

Offensively, it’s been the Daniel Murphy and Anthony Rizzo show since the former joined the club. Bringing a Ben Zobrist-like approach to the dish, he’s set the offense up nicely and Rizzo is once again chasing another 30-homer, 100-RBI campaign.

Twitter Happenings

These & Other Stories You May Have Missed

Welcome to the Murphy-Rizzo show, ladies & gentlemen – Cubbies Crib

Frazier appears done for the season – Yanks Go Yard

Red Sox officially moving on from Pedroia this season – Call to the Pen

MLB completely mishandled postponement on Friday – District on Deck

Lester has turned it on in his last four starts – Cubbies Crib

What’s Next

The Cubs and Nationals will play a day-night doubleheader on Saturday at Nationals Park. The first game is set for 2:05 p.m. CT and the second will follow roughly 45 minutes after conclusion of the opener.