NLDS 2017: How rain delay will affect rest of Cubs vs. Nationals series

Tuesday’s NLDS Game 4 matchup between the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals has been postponed due to rain. How does this reshape the rest of the series?

The Chicago Cubs still hold a 2-1 series advantage over the Washington Nationals in the NLDS and will have an opportunity to advance to the next round on their home field. They are just going to have to wait another day to try to jump on that opportunity.

The Cubs and Nationals were scheduled to square off in Game 4 of their five-game series on Tuesday afternoon. Tanner Roark was set to take the mound for Washington and he was to be opposed by Jake Arrieta. However, rain put the series on hold and the two teams will now face off on Wednesday.

This doesn’t change much for the Cubs. Arrieta will still take the bump on Wednesday and Kyle Hendricks will go in Game 5 if necessary. That being said, this could have set the Nationals up to really get the most out of their best pitchers. However, manager Dusty Baker has already announced that Roark will take the ball for Washington on Wednesday.

With all due respect to Baker, this is a huge mistake. Roark is clearly the fourth-best option in their rotation. He should only be making starts when needed. With this extra off day, the Nationals have the opportunity to start Stephen Strasburg in Game 4 on normal rest.

Strasburg was brilliant for the Nats against the Cubs in Game 1, allowing only three hits and no earned runs in seven innings. However, a costly error by third baseman Anthony Rendon allowed the Cubs to scrape across a couple of runs and tag Strasburg with the loss.

Next: Cubs' flaws the Nationals must expose in NLDS Game 4

Facing Strasburg in Game 4, followed by some combination of Gio Gonzalez and Max Scherzer in Game 5 would have been a tough hill to climb for the Cubs. That being said, the Cubs still have a big advantage with Arrieta versus Roark at home and Game 4 and can throw Hendricks against Strasburg in Game 5 if necessary.

All in all, this rain delay does not change much. However, Baker and the Nationals missed a big opportunity to capitalize on an extra day of rest. Honestly, this feels like a move that will come back to bite them.