How rest of WS schedule shakes out after Monday's PPD
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PHILADELPHIA -- Game 3 of the World Series between the Astros and Phillies, originally scheduled to be played on Monday at Citizens Bank Park, has been postponed due to inclement weather and a forecast for sustained rainfall throughout the evening.
Game 3 has been rescheduled for Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET, with the remainder of the World Series schedule pushed back by a day, including the travel day back to Houston for a potential Game 6. Major League Baseball made the announcement shortly after 7 p.m. ET, citing the input of three independent weather experts.
“Just looking at the radar, it looked like it was going to pick up over the course of the night,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “It’s the right decision.”
Houston and Philadelphia are tied in the series, 1-1. The weather conditions for Tuesday’s rescheduled Game 3 are expected to be clear.
Tickets for all World Series games are valid for the game number on each ticket (i.e., Game 3 on Tuesday; Game 4 on Wednesday; Game 5 on Thursday; etc.). The revised 2022 World Series schedule, subject to change, is available at MLB.com/postseason.
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• World Series ticket information: Astros | Phillies
Houston manager Dusty Baker said he would not alter his pitching plans or Game 3 lineup. Right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. remains scheduled to start Game 3, with righty Cristian Javier announced as the probable starter for Game 4. Ace righty Justin Verlander will start Game 5.
“It affects both teams, so you’ve just got to turn it off and get a good night’s rest,” Baker said. “It’s part of the game. You can’t control the weather, so you just deal with it.”
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Thomson said that left-hander Ranger Suárez would start Game 3 for the Phillies, with right-hander Aaron Nola announced for Game 4. Righty Noah Syndergaard was originally slated to pitch Game 3; Thomson said that Syndergaard would start Game 5 unless he is needed in relief, in which case righty Kyle Gibson could start.
With Games 3-5 now pushed to Tuesday through Thursday, Friday becomes a travel day for the clubs if the Fall Classic does not conclude in Philadelphia, a move both Baker and Thomson said they were in favor of.
“We would have both gotten in at 4 or 5 [a.m.],” Baker said. “That’s going to take away from the quality of the game, so I think it’s nice that we have an off-day.”
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If necessary, Game 6 would be played on Saturday at Houston’s Minute Maid Park, with Game 7 (if necessary) set for Sunday. All games will start at 8 p.m. ET. Thomson said that Zack Wheeler would start a potential Game 6, with Suarez lined up for a potential Game 7.
A potential Game 6 would be played on Nov. 5, making it the latest World Series game in terms of date. The final games of the 2001 and ‘09 Fall Classics (Yankees at D-backs and Phillies at Yankees, respectively) were played on Nov. 4.
In 2008, rain forced the Phillies to wait three days before completing a World Series victory over the Rays, with play suspended in the clinching Game 5. Philadelphia also won this year’s National League Championship Series over the Padres in rainy, gusty conditions in Game 5 on Oct. 23.
“I think everybody would rather just play in dry conditions,” Thomson said. “We know we’re going to get it in [on Tuesday]. It’s going to be fair for everybody, and we’ll go get it.”