Heavy rains forced the postponement of the Friday night game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Kansas City Royals. The teams have scheduled a split doubleheader on Saturday to make up for the missed game. The first game will begin at 1:10 p.m., with Tyler Glasnow set to pitch for the Rays against Alec Marsh. The second game will start at 6:10 p.m., with Zach Eflin taking the mound for Tampa Bay against Brady Singer.
The rain delay allowed both teams an extra day of rest coming out of the All-Star break. The Rays, who enter the second half of the season with the best record in the American League at 58-35, halted their seven-game losing streak with a win against the Atlanta Braves before the break. On the other hand, the Royals currently sit at the bottom of the AL Central with a 26-65 record.
Earlier in the day Friday, the Royals announced roster moves involving left-handed pitcher Angel Zerpa and right-handed pitcher Josh Staumont. Zerpa, who had been on the 60-day injured list since Opening Day due to left shoulder tendinopathy, has been reinstated from the IL and subsequently optioned to Triple-A Omaha.
Zerpa, a highly regarded 23-year-old, completed his rehab assignment and impressed with a 2.91 ERA in six rehab starts. With his return to Triple-A, he will continue pitching until his services are required in Kansas City. Zerpa is expected to provide depth for the Royals either in a bullpen role or as a spot starter in the second half of the season. Although injuries have plagued him in recent years, he has long been considered a valuable asset for the Royals’ pitching staff.
On the other hand, Staumont, 29, has been transferred to the 60-day injured list. Initially placed on the 15-day IL on June 7 due to a neck strain, Staumont has experienced a setback in his recovery. The exact timeline for his return remains uncertain. In his limited appearances this year, Staumont has recorded a 5.40 ERA across 20 innings of work.
The Royals will hope for Zerpa’s continued progress in Triple-A and for Staumont’s recovery from his neck strain as they navigate the second half of the season.
Meanwhile, heavy rains also interrupted the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium. After three scoreless innings, Lars Nootbaar homered in the first inning, giving the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. However, the game was suspended due to the inclement weather.
The Cardinals and Nationals have scheduled a split doubleheader for Saturday to make up for the suspension. The suspended game will resume at 1:15 p.m. CT, with the originally scheduled game following at 6:15 p.m. CT. Jeimer Candelario of the Nationals suffered a bone bruise in his right thumb during the first inning, cutting his playing time short.
Both teams are yet to announce their starting pitchers for Saturday’s games. The Cardinals will not send Miles Mikolas, who pitched three scoreless innings before the rain delay, back to the mound. Instead, they will rely on their bullpen for the remainder of the first game. The Nationals will have Jake Irvin start the night game, but they have not made an announcement for the resumption of the suspended game.
According to MLB rules, both teams will be allowed a 27th rostered player for the second game of the doubleheader. The Cardinals may activate catcher Andrew Knizner off the injured list as their 27th player.
The game will resume on Saturday with Paul Goldschmidt at the plate for the Cardinals, facing a 3-2 count with two outs in the bottom of the third inning.
The Major League Baseball Scoreboard for Friday, July 14, 2023:
Baltimore 5, Miami 2
Toronto 7, Arizona 2
Atlanta 9, Chicago (AL) 0
Boston 8, Chicago (NL) 3
Colorado 7, New York (AL) 2
Tampa Bay at Kansas City – PP (Rain)
Texas 12, Cleveland 4
Houston 7, Los Angeles (AL) 5
Minnesota 5, Oakland 4
Detroit 5, Seattle 4
San Diego 8, Philadelphia 3
San Francisco 6, Pittsburgh 4
Milwaukee 1, Cincinnati 0
Los Angeles (NL) 6, New York (NL) –
St. Louis 1, Washington 0 (Suspended in Bottom 3rd – Rain)
