It took 4,746 days for the World Series to return to Philadelphia.
What’s one more before an actual pitch is thrown?
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Major League Baseball postponed Game 3 between the Phillies and Houston Astros after consulting the weather forecast Monday evening. The series will pick back up at 8:03 p.m. Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park, with Games 4 and 5 set for Wednesday night and Thursday night.
Tickets will be valid based on the game number, MLB announced. Fans who are holding Game 3 tickets will be admitted to the ballpark on Tuesday night, with Game 4 tickets honored on Wednesday and Game 5 on Thursday.
A fan is silhouetted as game 3 of the World Series between the Phillies and Astros was postponed at Citizens Bank Park on Oct. 31, 2022.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Fans begin to leave as an announcement is made, and posted on the video board, that game 3 of the World Series against the Houston Astros has been postponed due to rain at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022.Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Stephen Tyson, 27, of Tampa, Fla., watches as the field is covered due to rain at baseball's World Series in Game 3 against the Houston Astros at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, in Philadelphia.Read moreSteven M. Falk / Staff photographer
Maryjane, left, and James Dambach of Philadelphia sit in the stands after game 3 of the World Series between the Phillies and Astros was postponed at Citizens Bank Park on Oct. 31, 2022. It was their 35th wedding anniversary.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
A fan in a Batman costume leaves after game 3 of the World Series between the Phillies and Astros was postponed at Citizens Bank Park on Oct. 31, 2022.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Fans react after an announcement is made that game 3 of the World Series against the Houston Astros has been postponed due to rain at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022.Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Maria Smith, left, and Jen Galbreath sit in the stands after game 3 of the World Series between the Phillies and Astros was postponed at Citizens Bank Park on Oct. 31, 2022.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Fans leave Citizens Bank Park after Game 3 of baseball's World Series was postponed due to rain on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, in Philadelphia.Read moreSteven M. Falk / Staff Photographer
A fan looks dejected as rain falls at the Citizens Bank Park before Game 3 of baseball's World Series between the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, in Philadelphia. The game was postponed by rain Monday night with the matchup tied 1-1.Read moreJose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Fans react to the postponement of game 3 of the World Series against the Houston Astros has been postponed due to rain at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022.Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Fans shield from the rain at the Citizens Bank Park before Game 3 of baseball's World Series between the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, in Philadelphia. The game was postponed by rain Monday night with the matchup tied 1-1.Read moreJose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Fans sit in the stands after game 3 of the World Series between the Phillies and Astros was postponed at Citizens Bank Park on Oct. 31, 2022.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Jonah Daniels of Ridley, PA came to game 3 of the World Series between the Phillies and Astros with his father, Jon, right at Citizens Bank Park on Oct. 31, 2022.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
A fan looks dejected as rain falls at the Citizens Bank Park before Game 3 of baseball's World Series between the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, in Philadelphia. The game was postponed by rain Monday night with the matchup tied 1-1.Read moreJose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Christine Swalley and Mick Delinsky, of Reading, Pa. Swalley says she is the Queen of Hearts, trying to get the attention of Bryce Harper. The two are outside baseball's World Series in Game 3 against the Houston Astros at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, in Philadelphia.Read moreSteven M. Falk / Staff Photographer
Nevaeh Jackson, 6, of Philadelphia, is dressed as a carnival clown outside baseball's World Series in Game 3 against the Houston Astros at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, in Philadelphia.Read moreSteven M. Falk / Staff Photographer
Robert Marmarosa, 64, of Naples, Florida, with birds Dino and Big Bird at baseball's World Series in Game 3 against the Houston Astros at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, in Philadelphia.Read moreSteven M. Falk / Staff Photographer
Cathy Cruz, 42, of Lancaster County, outside baseball's World Series in Game 3 against the Houston Astros at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, in Philadelphia.Read moreSteven M. Falk / Staff Photographer
Chalk artist Mike MacAulay, of Rhode Island, outside baseball's World Series in Game 3 against the Houston Astros at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, in Philadelphia.Read moreSteven M. Falk / Staff Photographer
Wes Sheffer, 33, of Conshohocken, Pa., dressed as Mario outside baseball's World Series in Game 3 against the Houston Astros at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, in Philadelphia.Read moreSteven M. Falk / Staff Photographer
Lauren Lee dances in a Phantic-inspired Halloween costume before game 3 of the World Series between the Phillies and Astros at Citizens Bank Park on Oct. 31, 2022.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Eric Simpson bought this Phillies Halloween costume in 2017 when the team wasn't successful and has been waiting for the opportunity to wear it in better times. He is shown before game 3 of the World Series between the Phillies and Astros at Citizens Bank Park on Oct. 31, 2022.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Nolan Ginion, 11, of Cinnaminson, N.J. dressed as a good luck charm for the Phillies on Halloween. He is shown before game 3 of the World Series between the Phillies and Astros at Citizens Bank Park on Oct. 31, 2022.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Dave Reph of Whitehall, PA before game 3 of the World Series between the Phillies and Astros at Citizens Bank Park on Oct. 31, 2022.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Skye Lee, 27, of Yardley, is dressed as Phillies Chuckie outside baseball's World Series in Game 3 against the Houston Astros at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, in Philadelphia.Read moreSteven M. Falk / Staff Photographer
Andrea Karweck, a lime, and Matt Karweck, a fish taco, both from Hamilton, N.Y., at baseball's World Series in Game 3 against the Houston Astros at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, in Philadelphia.Read moreSteven M. Falk / Staff Photographer
Tommy Dambra, 7, from Marlton, N.J., dressed as Rhys Hoskins at baseball's World Series in Game 3 against the Houston Astros at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, in Philadelphia.Read moreSteven M. Falk / Staff Photographer
Kierstin Kee, 29, and Allie Foster, 29, celebrate Halloween as they work during baseball's World Series in Game 3 against the Houston Astros at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, in Philadelphia.Read moreSteven M. Falk / Staff Photographer
Tyler Artes, 23, from Riverside, N.J., dressed as a hotdog at baseball's World Series in Game 3 against the Houston Astros at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, in Philadelphia.Read moreSteven M. Falk / Staff Photographer
The Phillies and Astros split the first two games in Houston.
“Just looking at the radar, it looked like it was going to pick up over the course of the night and it looks like at 9 o’clock it’s going to be raining pretty hard,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “So, it’s the right decision, really.”
Game 7 was scheduled to be played Saturday night at Houston’s Minute Maid Park. But MLB will preserve the travel day and push if-necessary Games 6 and 7 to Saturday night and Sunday night, respectively.
There’s another wrinkle to this whole thing. The Eagles and Houston Texans play Thursday night in Texas, which will pit the World Series against the NFL in both markets.
It wasn’t raining when MLB made the decision to postpone. But the forecast called for persistent rain throughout the night, and neither MLB nor the teams wanted to start a game under the threat of a weather delay.
Before the rainout was announced, commissioner Rob Manfred told MLB Network that the rain was expected to be heavier than it was in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series. Although the Phillies and San Diego Padres continued playing that game, the infield turned muddy and reliever Seranthony Domínguez threw three wild pitches in the seventh inning because he had difficulty gripping the ball.
Aside from the scheduling, the biggest impact on the series will involve the teams’ pitching plans — and the Phillies may reap a few benefits, at least in Game 3.
Left-hander Ranger Suárez will start Game 3 rather than Noah Syndergaard, who has pitched a total of 5⅓ innings since the end of the regular season. Aaron Nola will start Game 4.
Interestingly, Thomson said Syndergaard will start Game 5 unless he’s needed out of the bullpen before then. Otherwise, it will be Kyle Gibson, who has tossed 1⅓ innings since the end of the season. The Phillies won’t use ace Zack Wheeler before Game 6 on Saturday night, believing he could benefit from additional rest.
The Astros will stick with Lance McCullers Jr. in Game 3, manager Dusty Baker said, but will consider bringing back ace Justin Verlander on normal rest for Game 4 on Wednesday. Verlander was scheduled to pitch that night in Game 5.
For now, Baker said he’s expecting to stay on rotation and start Cristian Javier in Game 4.
“I don’t think we need to rest really right now,” Baker said. “We’ve had plenty of rest. We’ve had a lot of off days this last month. So, it’s just a temporary postponement. We’ll just take it as that and come out ready to play [Tuesday].”
Incidentally, rain has now impacted Game 3 in each of the last four World Series involving the Phillies. Game 3 was delayed in 1993, 2008, and 2009, with all of those games taking place in Philadelphia.
On his way out of the postponed World Series game, Adam Sigley, 30, of Allentown, bought a beer from a vendor to drown his sorrows. ”We’re upset,” he said. “I’m not happy; my wife can’t come tomorrow.”
Sigley’s wife, Michelle, who works in health care, said her bosses went to bat for her to have off Monday, but she can’t come Tuesday.
”Now I have to choose between my brother or my best friend to bring to the game tomorrow,” Adam Sigley said.
Kevin Duffy, 74, of West Philly, who was fully in character as Santa at the game, did not let the rain postponement dampen his spirits. Duffy was going around telling people in Astros gear that they were on the naughty list this year.
”It’s not going to stop the Phillies. Santa’s prediction is Phillies in six, maybe in five,” he said.
Astor Lawson, 41, of Allentown, brought his son Dempsey, 13, and said they would be back Tuesday and hoped to find the same standing-room spot behind home plate.
”We were hoping the game would happen, but it is what it is,” Lawson said. “Tomorrow, we just get to do it all over again.”
Staff writer Stephanie Farr contributed to this article.
