Ready or not, Cardinals head to Chicago in 41-vehicle caravan
If you saw a convoy of cars driving north on Interstate 57 Friday, it was very likely the St. Louis Cardinals.
As they prepare to play baseball for the first time since July 29 after dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak that resulted in 18 positive tests - 10 of them players - the Cardinals reportedly rented 41 cars so that 41 members of the organization could drive to Chicago while practicing social distancing.
The White Sox were supposed to play St. Louis Friday night, but the game was postponed and will be made up Saturday with a straight doubleheader at Guaranteed Rate Field. Game 1 was scheduled to start at 1:10 p.m., but it's been moved to 12:10 p.m. due to rain in the forecast.
Both games of the doubleheader will run 7 innings.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals will work out before Saturday's doubleheader for the first time in nine days.
The Sox and Cards are also scheduled to play Sunday afternoon. St. Louis will stay in Chicago and play the Cubs Monday-Wednesday at Wrigley Field. Doubleheaders are scheduled for Monday and Wednesday.
The Cardinals have only played five games this season and are 2-3.
"A lot of baseball coming," John Mozeliak, the Cardinals' president of baseball operations, told the Post-Dispatch. "Obviously, when you look at our schedule, it's daunting. Everybody would agree it's not going to be easy. But if this team clicks, it's going to be very good. And that's what we believe. Deciding that just because it's daunting we're going to wave the white flag, I think that wouldn't be the right answer. We're going to approach this as if, candidly, we're getting a second chance."
The 10 players who have tested positive for the coronavirus, including catcher Yadier Molina and shortstop Paul DeJong, will not be with the Cardinals in Chicago.
According to the Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals did have workouts at Busch Stadium the past few days but there was never more than one hitter or one pitcher on the field at the same time.
The White Sox were off Thursday, and they got a workout in Friday at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Waiting an extra day to play, and wondering if the Cardinals were going to be healthy enough to show up this weekend, hasn't been easy for the Sox.
Then again, everything seems to be extra difficult in a season shortened by the coronavirus.
"It is what it is," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "Nothing we could do about it, just got them ready to get into our series against these guys. There's nothing we could do. I think we made the adjustment, and we'll see how it goes tomorrow."
Lucas Giolito is scheduled to start against the Cards' Adam Wainwright in Game 1 Saturday. Both teams are undecided in Game 2.
Dallas Keuchel takes the mound for the Sox Sunday afternoon against another undecided starter for St. Louis.
It remains to be seen what the Cardinals' complete roster looks like, but they are expected to add top prospect Dylan Carlson, a switch-hitting outfielder, and at least three other players with no major-league experience.
The Sox will try building off two straight solid wins at Detroit.
"It was difficult," first baseman Jose Abreu said of the extended break. "No doubt about it. It was difficult, but I think we understand the situation that we're passing through and the reality of the time that we're living in.
"Hopefully, we can play tomorrow. That's the goal. For us, we have to deal with it and we have to do the best that we can under this circumstance. Hopefully, everything is going to be OK."