‘Let’s play ball’: Padres game still on despite rainy weather

Amber Coakley
·2 min read

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — It’s the question of the day in San Diego: is the Padres game still on?

An atmospheric river swept the region Saturday morning, dumping heavy rain across the county while posing the possibility of a rainout for the San Diego Padres.

The home team is scheduled to play the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park in game three of a four-game series on opening weekend. With the first pitch slated for 4:15 p.m., many fans are left wondering if a cancellation is imminent as a strong Pacific storm rolls through the region.

A Flash Flood Warning was issued by the National Weather Service for parts of the county around 9:30 a.m., including the city of San Diego where the game is expected to commence. The good news for baseball fans, that warning expired at 11:30 a.m.

Nonetheless, widespread rainfall is still anticipated into the afternoon and evening hours, though the weather service said it should be more scattered. A chance of isolated thunderstorms is even on the forecast late Saturday. Will this affect the game?

The San Diego Padres announced at 10:41 a.m. that after meeting with MLB and the weather service, Saturday’s game is expected to be played as scheduled as rain in the Petco Park area is anticipated to significantly lessen prior to the first pitch.

Though this could change, weather permitting, the Padres and Giants are expected to take the field for game three despite the rainy weather. For those headed to the baseball stadium, the Padres said the following items are permitted: ponchos, collapsible umbrellas, towels and blankets. Large or golf umbrellas will not be allowed.

Rainouts are rare for Padres home games, and even rarer for opening weekend, but they can happen. In the team’s history, there have been a total of 19 rainouts in San Diego. Of those, four rainouts have been at Petco Park since the ballpark opened in 2004.

The Padres beat the Giants 6-4 Thursday, before losing 3-8 in game-two on Friday.

If you can’t make it in person, catch the game on FOX 5.

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