Reds-Angels postponed; split DH on Wednesday

CINCINNATI – August 21, 2023 – (content by Mark Sheldon, Reds.com)

ANAHEIM — A once-in-a-century tropical storm that hit Southern California on Sunday has forced the postponement of the Reds’ series opener vs. the Angels on Monday.

The game was rescheduled for Wednesday at 9:38 p.m. ET as part of a split doubleheader. That day’s regularly scheduled game remains set for 4:07 p.m. ET.

With the sudden day off, Cincinnati changed its pitching plans slightly. Monday’s scheduled starter, Graham Ashcraft, will now start on Tuesday, with Andrew Abbott slated to pitch Game 1 on Wednesday. The starter for Game 2 was not immediately revealed.

The Reds had already summoned rookie starter Lyon Richardson to their taxi squad on Sunday while anticipating a possible postponement. Richardson made his big league debut on Aug. 6 vs. the Nationals and allowed four earned runs on four hits over three innings, including a pair of home runs.

The Angels announced that right-hander Lucas Giolito, who was originally scheduled to start on Monday, will go on Tuesday. Shohei Ohtani will start Game 1 of Wednesday’s doubleheader, and lefty Reid Detmers will start in the nightcap.

Since Tropical Storm Hilary reached land on Sunday, the region has been overwhelmed by rain and flooding.

“The outfield took a big hit,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said. “As everybody knows, we got a lot more rain here than we normally get. But everybody’s good. The field took a little bit of a hit, but [head groundskeeper] Barney [Lopas] is out there making it perfect like it always is.”

It’s the second weather-related postponement for the Reds in a 10-day span after their Aug. 12 game at Pittsburgh was rained out and rescheduled as a doubleheader the following day. Cincinnati will also have another doubleheader coming on Sept. 1 vs. the Cubs, with the game being made up due to a rainout earlier this season.