The Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals were scheduled to play game four of the NLDS today before the game was called due to rain. The radar was looking grim all day as a system of pouring rain approached Chicago from the southwest. The game's start time was already pushed ahead to 4:38 CDT yesterday because the forecast had called for precipitation for days. Now the game will be played tomorrow at Wrigley Field, as long as the weather holds, up at 3:08 CDT.
The system moved across Illinois and was set to arrive at Wrigley Field just around the first pitch.
The game was called at around 5:15 CDT after there was a delay at the initial start time. Both managers now have some decisions to make for tomorrow's game, considering each of their top starters now get another day of rest.
BREAKING: Cubs/Nationals postponed due to rain. Game 4 will now take place Wednesday at 3:08pm. pic.twitter.com/PDJFdikkmk
— 23 WIFR (@23WIFR) October 10, 2017
Planned game match up
The intended starters for game four were Tanner Roark for Washington and Jake Arrieta for Chicago. The Cubs lead the best-of-five series 2-1 as the Nationals face an elimination situation. Both Arrieta and Roark would have made their first appearances in this postseason being the teams' fourth starters.
Arrieta was moved to the bottom because of hamstring issues he has been battling the past month.
Joe Maddon had said, earlier today, that Arrieta was going to start the next game regardless whether it was today or tomorrow, with Kyle Hendricks is waiting for a game five if necessary. As for Roark, it is not clear if he will still go tomorrow or if Dusty Baker goes with Stephen Strasburg in an elimination game.
Strasburg would be going on regular rest if he does start tomorrow as he was the game one starter last Friday. If the Nationals do go with Strasburg, a game five could go to Roark, Gio Gonzalez or Max Scherzer, if his hamstring is feeling okay. Overall, the chances of Strasburg going on regular rest would seem very likely.
If Game 4 is ppd because of rain, #Cubs will stick with Arrieta
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) October 10, 2017
Looking forward
This NLDS will determine who will play the Los Angeles Dodgers, who swept the Arizona Diamondbacks in their series. They will have five days of rest before the NLCS as they await to see the winner of the Cubs/Nationals series. The Cubs look to continue to defend their title and are one win away from returning to the NLCS for the third-straight year and the Nationals are looking to win their first playoff series in franchise history.
A potential winner-take-all game five would take place on Thursday night at 8:00 PM CDT at Nationals Park if the Nationals win tomorrow.
