Baseball games in New York and Philadelphia got postponed by a day until Friday because there was rain expected in both cities.
The New York Mets were supposed to play against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, which was supposed to be the first full day of Major League Baseball games this year. But since it was going to rain a lot on Thursday in Queens, the Mets decided to move the game to Friday at 1:40 p.m.
At the same time, the Philadelphia Phillies also had to move their sold-out game against the Atlanta Braves from Thursday at 3:05 p.m. to Friday because of the expected rain.
Milwaukee’s manager, Pat Murphy, said he would rather play when it’s safe for the players, even if it means having an off day in between games. Both New York and Milwaukee teams practiced on Wednesday at Citi Field under cloudy skies.
“Everyone is eager to start playing,” Murphy commented. “But it’s a long six-month season, and the experienced players who have been around understand that.” Murphy took charge of the NL Central title-winning team after Craig Counsell left to manage the Chicago Cubs.
First-time manager Carlos Mendoza, who previously served as the Yankees’ bench coach, stepped in to replace Buck Showalter for the Mets.
Mendoza, hired by David Stearns, the new president of baseball operations, expressed his excitement about the upcoming season. With Corbin Burnes traded, Freddy Peralta will make his first opening-day start for the Brewers.
Jose Quintana will pitch for the Mets, as Kodai Senga is sidelined due to a shoulder injury. Although Senga is recovering, he isn’t expected to return until late April or May. Quintana, who recently became a US citizen, is set to take the mound.
Murphy, at 65 years old, expressed that he’s not anxious about the game’s postponement. He emphasized the importance of playing in favorable weather conditions.
When the Phillies face the Braves on Friday, Zack Wheeler and Spencer Strider will be the starting pitchers in an exciting NL East matchup. The Braves have dominated the division, but the Phillies have ended their postseason runs in the last two years.
