It was humid, and the sun was poking out of the clouds above Citi Field when the Mets announced that due to severe weather forecast for later in the evening, their series opener against the Cardinals on Monday was postponed.
The matchup was rescheduled as part of a single-admission doubleheader on Tuesday, beginning at 3:10 p.m. The gates at Citi Field will open one hour before first pitch, at 2:10 p.m. Game two will begin 30-40 minutes following the conclusion of game one.
“With severe weather in the area, we are thinking about everyone’s safety, so tonight’s game has been postponed,” the Mets said in a statement.
The rain, though flagged as a severe thunderstorm watch, was expected to clear out of Flushing by the 7:10 p.m. first pitch on Monday. The Mets did not make a team official available to provide clarity on their decision, as the home team, to postpone the game.
Alas, a doubleheader on Tuesday may just work to the Amazin’s benefit considering their sub-optimal pitching plans.
Taijuan Walker will take the mound Tuesday on his scheduled start day and Trevor Williams will get another one of those starts, but as of Monday evening the team did not announce which order they will pitch in.
With Tylor Megill (right biceps tendinitis) landing on the injured list, retroactive to May 12, the Mets were in need of a spot starter for Monday. Right-hander Williams, typically the team’s long relief option out of the bullpen, was scheduled to pitch Monday’s series opener against Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas. But Williams was likely not the Mets’ first choice against a 19-15 second place St. Louis squad.
The Mets have a 5-1 record in doubleheaders this season. They will look to rebound after a tough loss against the Mariners at home on Sunday, which led to their first series loss of the season — after a franchise record 9-0-1 start to the year.
There may even be some animosity lingering between the Cards and Mets after the two teams brawled at Busch Stadium the last time they played each other, just three weeks ago. The Mets, who lead the majors with 24 hit by pitches, were emotional after the Cardinals drilled yet another Met, J.D. Davis, which partly led to the benches-clearing incident in St. Louis.
Mets reliever Yoan Lopez sent a fastball up and in to Nolan Arenado, who then shouted and motioned at Lopez before pushing catcher Tomas Nido and the teams spilled onto the field. Arenado and Cardinals pitcher Genesis Cabrera, who pulled Pete Alonso’s collar during the on-field incident, both received suspensions and fines from MLB. But, to manager Buck Showalter’s surprise, Cardinals coach Stubby Clapp, who wrestled Alonso to the ground bear-hug style, did not receive either a suspension or a fine.
Tuesday will be the first time the Cardinals and Mets meet since the kerfuffle in the series finale, a 10-5 Mets loss, at Busch Stadium on April 27.
