PHILADELPHIA —
It feels like it's been forever since the Philadelphia Phillies last took the field in Citizens Bank Ballpark.
And now, thanks to Mother Nature, we'll have to wait one day longer.
The Phillies were scheduled to open the season with a National League Division Series rematch against their NL East nemesis, the Atlanta Braves, Thursday afternoon.
But the steady rain that covered most of Pennsylvania today and a dreary outlook for tomorrow forced the Phils to push back Opening Day by 24 hours.
The team announced the decision on social media Wednesday afternoon.
The Phillies and Braves will now open the season Friday at 3:05 p.m., back at the Bank.
The teams were originally scheduled to have an off-day on Friday, which made the decision to postpone Thursday's opener an easy one for Major League Baseball and the Phils.
Zach Wheeler will take the mound against Atlanta's Spencer Strider.
The Braves have won the National League East division title in each of the last six seasons, but they have been eliminated by the Phillies in the National League playoffs in back-to-back years.
This season, both teams are expected to battle it out for the division title again. They'll just have to wait a little bit longer to get the race underway.