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It was a break nobody asked for and one that shouldn’t greatly impact this 118th World Series. Yet the smattering of rain that made Citizens Bank Park a miserable, and plausibly unplayable setting for Game 3 on Monday night will certainly leave an imprint on the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies.
They will try again Tuesday, and Games 3, 4 and 5 should come off without delay, always a worry in a city where the last World Series clincher, in 2008, was delayed more than 48 hours before the Phillies could finish off the Tampa Bay Rays.
Here’s what to know as this Fall Classic staggers into November, where the majority of this battle will be contested: Night Ranger
Beyond aces Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler, no Phillies pitcher is as highly regarded as left-hander Ranger Suarez, whose ability and willingness to start, put out mid-game fires or close out a game – as he did in Game 5 of the NLCS – makes him particularly valuable.
So Monday’s rainout that pushed him from a Game 4 assignment to Game 3 is a nice break for the Phillies, moving their great competitor into a crucial swing game – and also aligning him for a potential Game 7 assignment.
Few would relish the assignment more than Suarez, whose unflappable demeanor and ever-present smile makes him a respected figure in Philly’s clubhouse.
“Not everyone gets to go to the playoffs. Not everyone gets to go to the World Series,” he says before Game 1. “At this moment, believe me when I tell you, I am enjoying every second of it. I feel blessed.
“I feel lucky to be here.” Rest up, lads
The rainout could have had a huge effect on pitching matchups, what with the aces in Games 1-2 able to move up a day for their second starts. Philadelphia opted to do so with Game 1 starter Aaron Nola, who will start Game 4 instead of Game 5 (and ostensibly have some availability on short rest in a Game 7).
