ATLANTA -- “When it rains, it pours” has been a phrase used to describe all that has gone wrong for the Braves this year. It was also a way to describe why Sunday afternoon’s series finale against the Marlins was postponed.
With heavy rain forecast throughout the day, the Braves announced the postponement approximately 90 minutes before Sunday’s scheduled first pitch. The game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader on Aug. 9.
The 1-8 Braves were denied a chance to win their first series of the season. But their offense, which has been blanked in three of the first nine games, was spared a matchup against Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara.
Atlanta will keep Chris Sale on schedule to start Tuesday’s series opener against the Phillies. Sunday’s scheduled starter, Grant Holmes, will now start Wednesday. Spencer Schwellenbach will start Thursday’s series finale against Philadelphia. Both Sale and Schwellenbach will be pitching with an extra day of rest.
Bryce Elder had been lined up to start Wednesday. He and AJ Smith-Shawver will now likely start the first two games of next weekend’s series against the Rays in Tampa.
Those with a ticket from Sunday’s game can use it for the first game of the Aug. 9 doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. ET that day. The stadium will be cleared between games. A separate ticket will be required for the second game, which will begin at 7:15 p.m.