Braves-Phillies stuck in inexplicable rain delay

Billy Heyen

Braves-Phillies stuck in inexplicable rain delay image

It doesn't make any sense at all.

Why are the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies sitting through an extended rain delay on Thursday night?

These are divisional foes who will play a bunch more games this season. What's so key about getting this game in on this night?

It's a brutal situation for both teams.

The Braves, who are hosting Thursday night's rainfest, are on the road in Tampa Bay on Friday.

The Phillies, already on a road trip, head to St. Louis for a Friday night clash.

NEW UPDATE: Latest Braves-Phillies rain delay news here

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This was a totally expected outcome. The Athletic's Matt Gelb predicted it based on the pregame forecast.

But the teams played, and got through six, tied 1-1, before the tarp had to come out.

The delay began at 8:45 p.m., and there was no end in sight by 10 p.m., when a note on the scoreboard told fans there was now a 40 percent discount on all food and non-alcoholic beverages. 

Maybe they'll get to play baseball again eventually, but the forecast is calling into question why they're so intent on finishing this game on this night in the first place.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle