WASHINGTON -- This week will be one of the most important stretches of the season for the Nationals, with seven games scheduled against two teams ahead of them in the National League East standings, in the Phillies and Braves. But rainy weather on Monday pushed the start of this crucial week back one day.

Monday night’s series opener between the Phillies and the Nationals was postponed due to inclement weather. The game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader on Wednesday at Nationals Park, with games at 1:05 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. ET. Information regarding tickets is available at Nationals.com/rain.

Rain postponed Monday’s game before it ever got started, pushing a 7:05 p.m. ET start back nearly three hours. Even when the rain did clear up briefly, an unfavorable forecast prevented the game from starting and it was officially called at 10 p.m.

Left-hander Patrick Corbin will have his start pushed back to Tuesday night to face Phils right-hander Jake Arrieta in a matchup initially scheduled for Monday. For now, the Nats can remain on turn in the rotation, but with seven games scheduled in the next six days, they will need to add another starter at some point this week.

The Nationals could push that need back until Saturday at the latest, electing to use Erick Fedde and Max Scherzer in Wednesday’s doubleheader, or they could take advantage of the 26th roster spot and call up a starter for one of those games. Right-handers Austin Voth, Kyle McGowin and Joe Ross are all potential options for a callup.

Whomever starts on Wednesday, they will be pitching in a crucial game for the Nats, as they hope this week will help them climb back into the division race.

“You've just got to keep playing,” catcher Kurt Suzuki said prior to the game. “Obviously when you’re playing within your division, you want to do well. But at the same time, you start looking too far ahead or you start making bigger things out of what it really is.”