For the second consecutive year, the Phillies find themselves adjusting their plans for the home opener at Citizens Bank Park due to anticipated rainfall.
The team announced on Wednesday that the highly-anticipated opening day clash against the Atlanta Braves, initially slated for Thursday at 3:05 p.m., will now take place on Friday at the same time, with gates opening at 12:35 p.m. Notably, Friday had originally been designated as an off day.
Phillies' executive vice president, David Buck, explained the decision in a statement: “In light of the forecasted rain on Thursday, we have opted to reschedule our home opener against the Braves to Friday. This determination was reached following consultations with Major League Baseball and various meteorological services. The flexibility of having an open date on Friday allows us to accommodate the rescheduling of the game.”
AccuWeather has forecasted a 91% probability of rain in the Philadelphia area for Thursday. The prediction indicates rainfall starting in the early morning and persisting throughout the day and into the early evening, with intermittent breaks.
Reflecting on last year's experience, the Phillies faced a similar decision for their April 5 home opener against the Reds, opting to reschedule due to anticipated rain. However, the outcome defied expectations, with no rain and temperatures reaching 80 degrees.
Friday will be rain-free, but temps will be in the low 50s.
