CHICAGO -- Joey Votto realizes he had to pay a price for bumping umpire Chris Conroy earlier this week.

The sooner the better, the Cincinnati Reds first baseman decided, the better. He will have to wait a bit longer.

Votto was suspended Friday for one game by Major League Baseball following the altercation, which occurred on May 6. Rather than appeal the one-game ban, Votto was set to serve it Friday night against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

But after Friday's game was postponed due to rain following a 32-minute delay, Votto will still make his return on Saturday -- just in the second game of a straight doubleheader. The Reds and White Sox will make up Friday's game at 3 p.m. CST with the second game following approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.

In the first game, Cincinnati's Johnny Cueto (2-3, 2.72) will face Hector Noesi (0-3, 6.75) before the Reds Jason Marquis -- who was slated to start Friday -- will face White Sox rookie Carlos Rodon, who will be making his first major league start.

Votto will be eligible to play in Saturday's second game.

"I want to get back as soon as possible to help the team," Votto said Friday. "And missing multiple games -- the fewer the games the better."

This weekend's series between the Reds and White Sox marks the first time the two teams have met during the regular season since 2009 and the first time they have played at U.S. Cellular Field since 2001. The White Sox have swept three of the past six series.

Like with Votto, the first meeting between the two teams in six years will have to wait.

"In the end there's nothing you can do about it; put that part out of your mind and just figure you gotta play," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "For us, the good news is you can add a 26th guy if you have a doubleheader so both teams will be able to have a guy. Nobody likes rainouts, especially this early -- especially as many as we've had. You don't mind one maybe in August, but this might be a little overkill."

Reds manager Bryan Price said Friday he thought perhaps the suspension could have been for more than one game given the offense. But under the agreement of Votto being suspended for only one game, the stipulation was he had to sit out immediately.

"It seemed to make sense rather than risk it (with an appeal)," Price said. "We knew inevitably that there would be some penalty beyond a financial penalty (because) he had contact with an umpire."

In 28 games this season, Votto is hitting .311 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs.

Votto said part of the reason he accepted the punishment from Major League Baseball was to set an example.

"I just felt the responsibility to younger players in the league, minor leagues, high school, college, youth leagues," Votto said. "I felt the responsibility to stand up for my actions ... and make sure that I recognize that's not the way a professional athlete, a professional should handle themselves. That's where the remorse came from."

NOTES: Reds SS Zack Cozart was scheduled to return to the line-up Friday night after missing the previous three games with a bruised right index finger he sustained while fielding a ground ball. ... Reds RHP Homer Bailey and RHP Matt Magill both underwent Tommy John surgery Friday to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligaments in their right elbow. Barring complications, both are expected to return in 2016. ... Reds C Devin Mesoraco was listed as the Reds designated hitter for Friday night's game. Mesoraco (hip) has been limited to pinch-hitting assignments over the past month due to the injury and hasn't started a game since April 11. Reds manager Bryan Price wants to be optimistic that Mesoraco could return to Cincinnati's line-up and said he could use this weekend's series -- along with upcoming road series in Kansas City and Cleveland, where the club could also assess where Mesoraco is health-wise. ... White Sox DH Jose Abreu could see time at third base next week in Milwaukee for an interleague series with the Brewers because there would not be an option for a designate hitter in a National League Park and with Adam LaRoche already playing first base.