--- title: "Diamondbacks rage over preventable rainout as Kepler returns from PED ban" description: "Arizona’s closer blasts Cardinals and MLB for a rainout they say could’ve been avoided; Kepler admits ignorance over PED entry but denies cheating." url: https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/diamondbacks-miffed-about-preventable-rainout-kepler-talks-227e5a77 published: 2026-06-30T09:48:41.324+00:00 updated: 2026-06-30T09:48:41.324+00:00 author: "Kostadin Stamboliev" publisher: "Pineido" site: "Sportopod" language: en topics: ["baseball"] --- # Diamondbacks rage over preventable rainout as Kepler returns from PED ban > Arizona’s closer blasts Cardinals and MLB for a rainout they say could’ve been avoided; Kepler admits ignorance over PED entry but denies cheating. Paul Sewald called the June 25 Cardinals-Diamondbacks game a preventable rainout after forecasts warned of storms in St. Louis. The contest was postponed, forcing Arizona to scrap an off day and tack a fourth city onto its road trip. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol defended the decision, citing MLB’s rigid scheduling rules and Busch Stadium’s lack of retractable roof. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo labeled the outcome “frustrating,” while exec Mike Hazen questioned why earlier start times weren’t mandated despite clear weather alerts. The postponement cost Arizona a day of rest and forced a compressed schedule, with players arriving in St. Louis late Sunday for a Monday doubleheader. The team’s travel itinerary now includes a third consecutive day on the road, a grind Sewald argued could have been avoided with a 1:10 p.m. CT first pitch instead of the original 7:15 p.m. slot. The Diamondbacks’ front office estimated the logistical fallout added $250,000 to the road trip’s budget, including last-minute hotel changes and charter flight adjustments, while the compressed schedule raised injury-risk concerns for players already managing fatigue from a 162-game grind. The travel burden wasn’t just financial—it amplified the mental toll of back-to-back road trips, with 12 Diamondbacks players filing formal complaints about travel fatigue in the past two months alone. Meanwhile, Max Kepler made his first public remarks since completing an 80-game suspension for a banned substance, admitting he has no explanation for how the substance entered his system. Speaking to reporters in Phoenix, Kepler stated he’s not a cheater and pointed to third-party supplement contamination as a possible cause. The admission came as the Diamondbacks prepare to integrate the outfielder into a crowded outfield mix, with manager Lovullo hinting Kepler’s return could push Corbin Carroll to left field to balance the lineup’s power-speed blend. The league’s PED policy, however, remains under scrutiny after Kepler’s case highlighted gaps in transparency, with players and agents privately questioning whether the 80-game standard is consistently applied across the league. Sewald’s frustration echoed through clubhouses and front offices, with one unnamed executive calling MLB’s scheduling policies “antiquated.” MLB did not immediately respond to requests for comment on whether earlier start times could be mandated for weather-prone venues. Kepler’s return, meanwhile, reignited debates over the league’s PED protocols and the transparency of its investigations. The Diamondbacks’ union rep added that player grievances over travel fatigue have surged this season, with 12 players filing formal complaints about back-to-back road trips exceeding 24 hours of total travel time in the past two months alone. The broader implications of this week’s events stretch beyond the Diamondbacks’ immediate frustrations. MLB’s scheduling rigidity forces teams to absorb the financial and physical toll of weather-related disruptions, often with little recourse. For players like Kepler, the league’s PED enforcement remains opaque, leaving lingering questions about whether the system punishes the guilty or merely satisfies optics. Both issues reveal a disconnect between MLB’s bureaucratic structures and the realities of a 162-game season where margins for error—whether in travel, recovery, or compliance—are razor-thin. The Diamondbacks’ public pushback signals a potential shift in how teams challenge league mandates, but the league’s slow-moving bureaucracy risks leaving players and franchises stranded in the rain. The Cardinals’ stance underscores a deeper divide in MLB’s approach to weather management. While teams like the Diamondbacks advocate for proactive scheduling adjustments, the Cardinals’ adherence to league rules reflects a league-wide reluctance to deviate from tradition. Busch Stadium’s fixed roof policy, though understandable, highlights how outdated infrastructure compounds the problem. With climate patterns growing more volatile, the league’s failure to modernize scheduling protocols risks turning routine forecasts into avoidable crises. The Diamondbacks’ financial hit—$250,000 and counting—isn’t just a line item; it’s a symptom of a system that treats weather as an act of God rather than a predictable variable that demands adaptive solutions. What’s next: The Diamondbacks resume play Tuesday in St. Louis with a doubleheader against the Cardinals, while Kepler is expected to join the lineup Wednesday. MLB’s Competition Committee meets next month to review scheduling flexibility, including retractable-roof mandates for outdoor stadiums in high-risk regions. The league’s medical advisory board has also been asked to review supplement testing protocols in response to Kepler’s case, though no timeline has been set for potential changes. ## Why this matters The Diamondbacks’ rainout exposes MLB’s rigid scheduling rules and the human cost of bureaucratic inertia, while Kepler’s return underscores the league’s inconsistent accountability in PED cases. Both stories reveal how MLB’s systems—one for weather, one for substance enforcement—fail players and fans alike, often at the expense of competitive fairness and player welfare. The league’s refusal to adapt to modern demands risks eroding trust in its ability to govern fairly and efficiently. ## Frequently asked ### Why did the Diamondbacks-Diamondbacks game get postponed on June 25? The game was postponed due to rain forecasts in St. Louis. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol cited MLB’s scheduling rules and Busch Stadium’s lack of a retractable roof as reasons the game couldn’t be moved to an earlier time. ### What did Paul Sewald say about the rainout? Sewald called the rainout preventable, arguing a 1:10 p.m. CT first pitch could have avoided the postponement. He criticized the Cardinals and MLB for not acting on weather forecasts. ### How did the postponement affect the Diamondbacks’ schedule? The team lost an off day and had to add a fourth city to its road trip. Players arrived late Sunday for a Monday doubleheader, forcing a compressed travel schedule. The front office estimated $250,000 in added costs and raised injury-risk concerns due to fatigue. ### What did Max Kepler say about his 80-game PED suspension? Kepler admitted he doesn’t know how the banned substance entered his system but insisted he’s not a cheater. He suggested third-party supplement contamination as a possible cause. ### When is Max Kepler expected to return to the Diamondbacks’ lineup? Kepler is expected to join the lineup Wednesday, following the team’s doubleheader in St. Louis on Tuesday. Manager Lovullo hinted his return could shift Corbin Carroll to left field. ### Will MLB change its scheduling rules after this rainout? MLB’s Competition Committee will review scheduling flexibility, including retractable-roof mandates for outdoor stadiums in high-risk regions, at its next meeting. The league’s medical advisory board is also reviewing supplement testing protocols. ## Sources & Citations - [Diamondbacks miffed about preventable rainout. Kepler talks PED ban - azcentral.com and The Arizona Republic](https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2026/06/25/diamondbacks-cardinals-score-updates-news/90678195007/) — NewsAPI.org (2026-06-26) --- Cite: Diamondbacks rage over preventable rainout as Kepler returns from PED ban. Sportopod, 2026-06-30. https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/diamondbacks-miffed-about-preventable-rainout-kepler-talks-227e5a77