WASHINGTON - With a game already postponed 100 miles to the north and the forecast for lingering showers throughout the afternoon, Cardinals skipper Tony La Russa just announced that Kyle McClellan will replace Kyle Lohse as starting pitcher should today’s action against the Washington Nationals actually get under way.

McClellan has not pitched since Tuesday in Atlanta. He is among a number of relievers, including closer Ryan Franklin, who could use work, making the move to a “bullpen game” an easy one for TLR.

La Russa has not said whether Lohse will start tomorrow’s series opener at Busch Stadium against the Philadelphia Phillies, but it is unlikely Lohse will be skipped in the rotation.

McClellan was conditioned as a starter early in spring training and and made 51 minor-league starts before being converted to relief in 2007. Today would be his first major-league start.

The Nationals apparently will stay with scheduled starter John Lannan (0-3, 4.61). An announcement was just made that the game is expected to start on time at 1:35 p.m local time…. No, wait, another announcement has just followed saying the game will not start until 2 p.m. Local sentiment suggests Mine That Bird went off at shorter odds than a 2 p.m. tip-off. Obviously, TLR is aware of a forecast that says a strong possibility exists for in-game stoppages. It’s going to be awhile.

The lineups:

2B Joe Thurston

CF Rick Ankiel

1B Albert Pujols

RF Ryan Ludwick

LF Chris Duncan

C Yadier Molina

3B Brian Barden

P Kyle McClellan

SS Tyler Greene

NATS

SS Cristian Guzman

CF Elijah Dukes

3B Ryan Zimmerman

1B Adam Dunn

RF Austin Kearns

LF Josh Willingham

C Jesus Flores

2B Anderson Hernandez

P John Lannan