Rain has pushed back Wednesday night’s game between the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, with the scheduled 6:40 p.m. ET first pitch delayed because of bad weather in Philadelphia. The Phillies announced around 6:18 p.m. ET that the game would instead begin at 7:05 p.m. ET. At the time of the latest update, the game had not been postponed. Reports from the ballpark showed the rain easing later in the evening, the tarp coming off the field, and officials continuing to prepare for play. Unless the weather changes again, both teams are expected to take the field later tonight.
Why the Washington Nationals vs Philadelphia Phillies game was delayed
Heavy rain reached Citizens Bank Park well before first pitch. Earlier in the afternoon, the grounds crew rolled out the tarp as showers moved across the stadium. Later, NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Spencer McKercher also shared that Nationals players were caught in a heavy downpour before the tarp fully covered the field.The delay did not come as a surprise because weather forecasts had already warned of storms across Philadelphia. According to AccuWeather, the city was under a flash flood warning, with thunderstorms expected through the afternoon and into the evening.DraftKings Network also reported that there was a 60% chance of rain after 4 p.m., although conditions were expected to improve later, making a delay more likely than a complete postponement.https://x.com/philstailgate/status/2085128599229620317?s=46&t=8ecFHACrCbRV63hISqBrAABy early evening, the rain had started to ease. Phillies Beisbol Network reported that the showers had stopped and the tarp was removed from the field as crews worked to get the playing surface ready. The Phillies then announced a new 7:05 p.m. ET start time, although that could still change if more rain moves into the area.
What the delay means for Andrew Painter, Jake Irvin and both teams
The weather delay could affect both starting pitchers before they even throw a pitch. Washington is scheduled to start right-hander Jake Irvin, who enters the game with a 2-5 record, a 5.56 ERA and 59 strikeouts. Philadelphia is set to hand the ball to right-hander Andrew Painter, who is 1-8 this season with a 6.72 ERA and 59 strikeouts.A long wait before first pitch can change a pitcher’s routine and warm-up schedule. If the delay becomes longer than expected, teams sometimes adjust pitch counts or even rethink their pitching plans.The game is also important for both clubs for very different reasons. Philadelphia came into Wednesday on a four-game winning streak after beating Washington 5-0 on Tuesday. The Phillies entered the night at 61-53, sitting second in the National League East and fighting to strengthen their wild-card position. The Nationals, meanwhile, were 55-60 and had lost seven straight games.As of the latest update, the Phillies have not announced a postponement. The official first pitch remains scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET, with both teams waiting for the weather to fully clear before play begins.
