WASHINGTON -- Ozzie Albies will miss one fewer game and the Braves can wait a little longer to determine who might fill the vacant spot in their starting rotation. These were the positives created by the postponement of Saturday night's game against the Nationals at Nationals Park.
Due to inclement weather, the Nationals announced the postponement approximately five hours before the scheduled first pitch. A makeup date has not been announced. But with the Braves making just one more trip to Nationals Park this season, the game might be made up as part of a doubleheader on Aug. 7.
The division rivals share a common off-day on Aug. 6. But if the game were to be rescheduled for that date, the Braves would play games in 35 days within a 36-day span, and the Nationals would end up playing 28 days within a 29-day span.
Albies exited Friday's win because of a tight right hamstring. The All-Star second baseman is doubtful for the remainder of this weekend, and he seems questionable to appear in the two-game set that begins Monday in Miami.
Instead of having Saturday's scheduled starter Sean Newcomb take the mound for Sunday's series finale, the Braves will instead go with Mike Foltynewicz. This allows Newcomb to start Monday's game against the Marlins, who rank second-to-last in the Majors with a .657 OPS against left-handed pitchers.
With Newcomb lined up for Monday, Julio Teheran will be pushed back a day to start Tuesday afternoon's finale against the Marlins. The Braves had been leaning toward activating Max Fried from the disabled list to make Tuesday's start.
Tickets from Saturday's postponement will be honored for the rescheduled game. The tickets can also be exchanged for any other 2018 regular-season game at Nationals Park. The exchange must be made before the rescheduled game is played.