Cubs bothered by Cardinals’ quick rescheduling of rainout

ST. LOUIS — Heavy rain forecast all day Wednesday forced the postponement of the series finale between the Cubs and Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

Against the wishes of the Cubs, the Cardinals rescheduled the makeup game for 12: 45 p. m. Thursday on the teams’ next available mutual day off. The Cubs preferred to reschedule the game for one of their two other trips to St. Louis this season.

Both scheduled starters, John Lackey and Lance Lynn, move back to start Thursday.

The Cubs resume their sixgame, season- opening road trip Friday in Milwaukee.

Piscotty avoids DL

Cardinals right fielder Stephen Piscotty, who endured one of the most painful trips around the bases in baseball history in the fifth inning Tuesday night, was cleared after undergoing concussion testing and is expected to avoid the disabled list.

Piscotty was hit by throws from the three hardest throwers on the field. He was drilled in the right elbow by pitcher Jake Arrieta, then on the left elbow by catcher Willson Contreras as he advanced to second base on a wild pitch and finally on the earflap of his helmet by Javy Baez when he slid home with the Cardinals’ only run.

“That was a really rough sequence for him,” Arrieta said. “Hopefully, he’s OK. I send him my best.”

Who’s hot

Starters Jon Lester and Arrieta combined to allow one earned run in 11- plus innings ( 0.82 ERA) in the first two games of the series with 13 strikeouts and four walks.

First- year leadoff hitter Kyle Schwarber has reached base in five of nine plate appearances ( single, double, two walks and hit by a pitch).

Contreras is 3- for- 7 with a walk and a three- run homer.

Who’s not

Kris Bryant ( 0- for- 9) and Anthony Rizzo ( 1- for- 7) are a combined 1- for- 16 with five strikeouts.