With D.C. United preparing for their first Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs match this weekend, Steve Birnbaum is in the midst of a life-changing day.
Birnbaum and his wife, Jeanne, had their first child this week, a daughter.
With D.C.'s playoff game on Saturday at Toronto FC (6 pm ET | TUDN in US; TSN4, TVAS2 in Canada), the family made a big decision: They chose to induce labor on Monday night so to avoid any conflict with the playoff game, per Steven Goff of The Washington Post.
As Goff explained, with the game being away, the Birnbaums aimed to schedule the birth to ensure Steve would be present for the big event. With the baby's arrival, mission accomplished, while Birnbaum should be available for Saturday's game.
Birnbaum, 28, started each one of D.C.'s 34 matches this season, the second year in a row he's accomplished the feat.
The defender let the world know he and his wife were expecting a child, tucking the ball under his shirt after scoring his only goal this season back in March, then confirming in a postgame interview that Jeanne was pregnant.
