CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Chicago Cubs righthander Mark Prior will

have to wait at least another day to make his much anticipated

start to the 2005 season.

The scheduled Tuesday afternoon game between the Cubs and the

San Diego Padres was postponed due to rain. It has been

rescheduled as part of a doubleheader here Wednesday beginning

at 1:05 pm EDT.

Prior, who was activated from the 15-day disabled list earlier

Tuesday, was scheduled to face 2004 National League ERA leader

Jake Peavy (0-0, 0.00 ERA). Instead, he will square off against

Brian Lawrence (0-1, 2.57 ERA) in the second game of Wednesday's

doubleheader.

Peavy, who was 15-6 with a 2.27 ERA last year, will start the

first game for the Padres against Kerry Wood (0-0, 3.18 ERA).

The 24-year-old Prior began the season on the disabled list with

inflammation in his elbow. Manager Dusty Baker said it had

more to do with Prior fine-tuning his mechanics rather than

being injured.

Last season, Prior started on the DL with Achilles' tendon and

elbow problems and missed two months. He also missed a start in

July with discomfort in his elbow.

One of baseball's best young pitchers, Prior was just 6-4 with

a 4.02 ERA in 21 starts last season. He went 18-6 with a 2.43

ERA in 2003, helping the Cubs come within a win of their first

World Series appearance since 1945.