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Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner, left, talks with teammate, first baseman Bryce Harper, during the fifth inning of a spring practice baseball game against the New York Yankees on March 11.
NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball’s opening games in New York and Philadelphia were postponed a day Friday because of rain forecasts in both cities.
Pete Alonso and the New York Mets were scheduled to host the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday afternoon, a day that included the first full slate of games in this year’s primary league. The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres opened the season with a two-game series. in Seoul, South Korea, last week.
But with rainy weather expected for much of Thursday in Queens, the Mets announced the game was delayed until Friday at 1:40 p. m.
A few minutes later, the Philadelphia Phillies announced that their first sold-out game against the NL East rivals Atlanta Braves was postponed until Thursday at 3:05 p. m. to Friday at the same time due to expected rain.
“I prefer to play when it’s for guys, obviously,” new Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said. “Our field is a moving target, you know what I mean?So it’s best to have those days off in between, to be honest. But you have to do what you have to do.
New York and Milwaukee practiced under cloudy skies at Citi Field.
“Obviously, everybody’s eager to get started,” Murphy said. But it’s a six-month season and the guys, our leaders who know best, who are there, even if it’s just a few, that’s all part of it. . They get it.
Murphy took over the NL Central champion champion after manager Craig Counsell eloped to rival the Chicago Cubs in the offseason.
New York is turning to rookie Carlos Mendoza, the former Yankees bench coach hired to update Buck Showalter with new president of baseball operations David Stearns, who led the Brewers after developing as a Mets fan in New York.
“It’s getting real,” Mendoza said today before the opening game was postponed. “There’s going to be a lot of feelings and I’m keeping an eye on that. “
After trading No. 1 starter Corbin Burnes, a three-time All-Star and 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner, Milwaukee gave Freddy Peralta the first start of his career on day one.
Jose Quintana opts for the Mets, minus Kodai Senga, a finalist for the 2023 National League Rookie of the Year because of a shoulder strain. Senga recently started fighting again, but he hoped to return at least until the end of April or May, maybe longer.
Quintana, who was born in Colombia, just became a U. S. citizen last week.
“It would be a better day than starting in bad weather, where you have to pick up pitchers and then lose them because of the weather,” Murphy, 65, said. “It doesn’t matter how it affects me. What about anxiety?? No, I’m too old to be anxious.
When the Phillies and Braves play Friday, right-handers Zack Wheeler and Spencer Strider will square off in a juicy NL East game.
Reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. and the Braves have finished four games ahead of Philadelphia in the past two years. But the Phillies finished Atlanta’s playoffs in Game 4 of a division series at Citizens Bank Park.
BREWERS UPDATE
Milwaukee left-hander Wade Miley faced his teammates by simulating at-bats at Citi Field. Miley will open on the injured list after being slowed this spring by shoulder soreness and a groin issue. He aims to make his season debut in April. Series 8-11 in Cincinnati.
MEETING UPDATE
Veteran slugger J. D. Martinez, signed at the end of spring practice, remained at the team’s facility in Florida when New York lifted camp. The 36-year-old designated hitter performs at-bat simulations in front of his new teammates and manages the bases as he gets in shape. .
It will remain in Port St. Lucie, Fla. , for at least a week to 10 days, Mendoza said, before Martinez and the team take the next step. He is rarely expected to make his Mets debut until at least April 7. .
“When we have him, the lineup will be more complete,” Mendoza said.
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