The Philadelphia Phillies have stumbled into the final game of the season at Citizens Bank Park against the Tampa Bay Rays. They have dropped four consecutive games and six of their last eight, and as a result they have still not punched their ticket to the postseason.
Everything is riding on Sunday’s series finale. If the Phillies win, they are in. If not, the Arizona Diamondbacks can punch their ticket instead with a victory over the San Diego Padres.
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Tampa Bay has been looking to head into October with some momentum and has been competing hard against the Phillies despite already possessing the No. 1 seed in the American League.
Sunday’s game must be played given the implications, and MLB is doing everything it can to ensure it goes off without a weather-related issue.
On Saturday, the start time was delayed due to inclement weather, and this time MLB wants to get ahead of the rain entirely. The league has announced an updated start time for first pitch.
MLB makes a scheduling change
“Today’s Rays-Phillies game, on the final day of the regular season, will now start at 2:30 p.m. ET, per MLB. Clearly the teams are trying to get this game in with weather a major concern,” wrote Rays sideline reporter Ryan Bass on X.
The game’s original start time was 3:05 p.m. ET, but MLB has moved it up in hopes of beating the afternoon showers and avoiding weather playing a role in such a meaningful matchup.
The Phillies will send out Zack Wheeler in hopes of saving their season while Tampa Bay will counter with one of its best arms in Nick Martinez.
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