Reds and Padres to play doubleheader on Thursday

CINCINNATI -- Wednesday's game between the Reds and Padres was postponed because of rain. It will be made up Thursday as part of a day-night doubleheader.

The originally scheduled 12:35 p.m. ET game for Thursday will be played as scheduled. The makeup game is slated to begin at 6:10 p.m.

Fans holding tickets for Wednesday's game may use their same ticket for the rescheduled game Thursday night with no exchange necessary.

The rainout has thrown a hitch into the Reds' starting pitcher plans for the next few days. Ace Johnny Cueto, originally slated to start Wednesday for Cincinnati, will start the Thursday afternoon game against Ian Kennedy. Because of the forecast for Wednesday, there was no assured window to get the game in, without potentially shortening the night for both starters.

"We didn't want to wait here until after 9:30 and play two innings and then have the rest of the night rained away," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "It doesn't make any sense for us. And they certainly don't want to lose Kennedy, I'm sure."

Both teams will be allowed to add a 26th man to their rosters for the second game of the doubleheader.

The Reds appear likely to use that extra spot to call up a starting pitcher from the Minor Leagues instead of using their originally scheduled Thursday starter, Alfredo Simon.

"There are a few things we have to accomplish before we can potentially make that announcement," Price said. "If we can't secure a player or pitcher, it would be Simon for Game 2."

At Triple-A Louisville, veteran left-hander Jeff Francis is scheduled to start at Norfolk on Thursday. Francis is 4-3 with a 3.33 ERA in eight starts.

Tyson Ross is scheduled to pitch Game 2 for the Padres.

The rest of the Reds rotation would move back a day. Simon is poised to pitch Friday's series opener at Philadelphia with Homer Bailey pitching vs. the Phillies on Saturday. That was the day that Tony Cingrani appeared likely to be activated from the disabled list to start.

"We're still optimistic that Tony will pitch on that road trip," Price said. "There's nothing that suggests he won't. Which game, we'll probably have a better idea in the next 48 hours. He could pitch on Sunday or Monday [at Washington] the way things are laying out now."

Wednesday's rainout was only the ninth postponement in the 12-season history of Great American Ball Park, but the second this season.