With the All-Star break now firmly in the rearview mirror, the Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins are scheduled for a three-game series at Target Field. Unfortunately, it looks like we’ll have to wait to get the first game of this series underway.
With thunderstorms and rain in the forecast on Monday evening, according to our friends at The Weather Channel, even if the Phillies and Twins get to play tonight, it could be a rather wet affair.
Phillies-Twins rain delay: Restart time updates for Target Field, July 22
Update, 8:15 p.m. ET: MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki posted that the estimated start time is set for 9:10 p.m. ET.
Estimated first pitch for Phillies-Twins is 9:10 p.m. ET
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) July 23, 2024
The Philadelphia Inquirer's Scott Lauber first posted that thunderstorms were rolling into Minneapolis and that the grounds crew had covered the field at 6:40 p.m. ET.
Thunderstorms expected to roll in shortly here in Minneapolis. The grounds crew just covered the field. Stay tuned for updates, but not looking like an on-time start for #Phillies-Twins.
— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) July 22, 2024
With the tarp on the field and the originally scheduled 7:40 p.m. ET start time looking impossible, the home team, the Twins officially announced the rain delay at 6:48 p.m. ET.
The Twins didn't provide a tentative start time, so we'll have sit tight and wait to see when we can get this one started.
Today's game will begin in a rain delay.
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 22, 2024
We will provide updates when we have them. pic.twitter.com/AhPA7Kaoy2
Phillies-Twins rain delay: Phillies looking to bounce back after disappointing weekend
The Phillies are trying to bounce back from a disappointing weekend in Pittsburgh.
Despite picking up a win on Sunday, thanks to an impressive Tyler Phillips start, the Phillies are coming off an avoidable series loss at the hands of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Phillies hope to get back on track and finish their six-game road trip on a high note in Minnesota.
Monday's pitching matchup, if it happens, will pit Phillies lefty Ranger Suárez (10-4) against Twins scheduled starter Bailey Ober (8-5). Suárez had looked rough in his most recent three starts before missing his final start of the first half with back spasms. Before skipping that start and the All-Star Game, Suárez had gone 0-2 with an 8.62 ERA in three games.
Ober, a 29-year-old right-hander, has a 4.14 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 18 starts this season. He had posted five quality starts in a row heading into the All-Star break, with a 2.16 ERA, 11.07 K/9 and 1.62 BB/9 over that span.
For now, we'll just have to wait and see if Mother Nature lets the two teams get this series underway tonight.