Rain washed out Thursday night’s series finale between the American League Central-leading Chicago White Sox and National League East-leading Atlanta Braves, forcing both clubs to adjust their plans as they head into important weekend matchups.
The game at Rate Field was originally scheduled for a 6:40 p.m. CT first pitch, but worsening weather conditions quickly became the story of the evening. Officials announced a delay roughly 40 minutes before game time, and with forecasts calling for steady rain throughout the night, the decision was eventually made to postpone the contest entirely.
The postponement came during a stretch of difficult weather in the Chicago area, marking the second consecutive day of rain-related concerns. For the Braves, the timing was particularly significant as the club needed to travel to New York immediately afterward for a crucial weekend series against the Mets.
Braves Makeup Date Set for August
Major League Baseball announced that the game will be made up on Thursday, Aug. 20, at 1:10 p.m. CT (2:10 p.m. ET). The date works because both teams already had an off-day scheduled. Atlanta will squeeze the makeup game between the road series against the Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers, while Chicago will arrive after a three-game crosstown showdown against the Cubs, then host the Mets and Rangers.
Fans holding tickets for Thursday’s game will not need to take any action. The White Sox announced that all tickets, prepaid parking passes, and Stadium Club passes for the postponed contest will be automatically honored for the Aug. 20 makeup game.
Pitching Plans Shift for Both Teams
The schedule change also reshuffled pitching plans.
Atlanta will move left-hander Martín Pérez back to Saturday’s game against New York. Hard-throwing right-hander Spencer Strider is now slated to open the Mets series on Friday at Citi Field, while Bryce Elder is expected to take the mound in Sunday’s finale.
Chicago adjusted its own rotation as well. Anthony Kay, who had been scheduled to start Thursday’s postponed game, will now take the ball Friday against the Dodgers. Sean Burke is lined up for Saturday afternoon, and Erick Fedde will close out the homestand on Sunday.
Before the postponement, the White Sox had listed a starter for Saturday simply as “TBA,” creating speculation that top pitching prospect Hagen Smith could make his major league debut. Smith, ranked as the organization’s No. 4 prospect and No. 47 overall, generated considerable interest among fans. With the revised schedule, however, that opening in the rotation disappears for now, and Chicago likely will not need another starter until next weekend’s trip to Detroit.
Wizard Hat Antics Highlight Rain Delay
While the weather ultimately won the night, one memorable moment still emerged during the lengthy delay. White Sox pitcher Mike Vasil, sidelined for the season following Tommy John surgery, entertained fans by appearing near the home dugout wearing a wizard hat and carrying a magic wand.
Joined by teammates Chase Meidroth and Kyle Teel, Vasil theatrically pointed the wand toward the sky and the stands in an attempt to reverse the weather. The wand had previously become a lighthearted symbol inside the clubhouse during the team’s successful stretch this season.
The crowd enjoyed the effort, but even baseball magic had its limits. The rain continued to fall, and the game never got underway.
