Washington (AFP) – The Philadelphia Phillies have postponed their Major League Baseball season opener against Atlanta from Thursday to Friday due to heavy rain in the forecast, the club announced on Wednesday.
The matchup was to have been part of MLB’s North American opening day with all 30 teams competing after the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres began the regular season with two games in Seoul last week.
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Instead, Phillies ace Zack Wheeler and Braves star Spencer Strider will delay their planned right-handed pitchers duel to Friday, when the clubs originally were to have enjoyed a day off.
“This decision was made after consultation with Major League Baseball and various weather services,” Phillies executive vice president Dave Buck said in a statement.
Forecasters predict a 90% or better chance of rain in Philadelphia on Thursday.
Atlanta, chasing a seventh consecutive National League East division title, won the World Series in 2021 but were eliminated from the playoffs by division-rival Philadelphia in each of the past two seasons in the best-of-five NL division series.
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