As we count down to the first pitch of the 2018 MLB All-Star Game at Nationals Park, it's looking better and better that the game will go off without a hitch.
According to the National Weather Service, Tuesday's rainfall totals broke records at all three Baltimore-Washington airports, but at largely left the area by quitting time:
New rainfall records set for July 17:Washington-National: 2.79" (broke 2.05"/1945)Baltimore-BWI: 2.53" (broke 2.25"/1947)Washington-Dulles: 1.05" (broke 0.60"/1988)
— NWS DC/Baltimore (@NWS_BaltWash)
July 17, 2018 Forecasts as recently as last night called for a high chance of rain in the downtown area right up until game time, which would impede fan flow and possibly delay the start of the game. However, it now appears that the worst of the rain may have already passed.
According to Weather.com, the best chance of rain is only 25 percent in the 9 p.m. hour. Radar predictions show that a severe thunderstorm could pop up around 9:45, but is likely to be just outside of the district in Maryland. Given the volatility of summer weather in the mid-Atlantic, these predictions are subject to change:
⚾️☔️ Heaviest of the rain has already cleared through Nationals Park, with just some lingering showers left. Even those will be gone soon, and the forecast looks mostly dry for tonight’s @MLB #Allstargame2018 @espn pic.twitter.com/9vIrJ7OpQl
— Kevin Roth (@KevinRothWx)
July 17, 2018 After a brief deluge this afternoon, the ground is definitely wet near Navy Yard. Here's a look at the path that most fans will take from Metro to the centerfield gates:
Hey, remember when all that rain sent people inside? #MLBAllStarGame pic.twitter.com/rpNrgczVQd
— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan)
July 17, 2018 Even with clearing skies overhead, it will be a big effort by the Washington Nationals' grounds crew to get the field into playing shape. This was the state of the dugout earlier, during the storm:
Getting rid of water in #National League dugout #ASG pic.twitter.com/HWnninsuhp
— thom loverro (@thomloverro)
July 17, 2018 ok when I said I wanted to soak in this all star week experience this isn’t what I meant pic.twitter.com/0Iq02S9F5N
— Sean Doolittle (@whatwouldDOOdo)
July 17, 2018 The goal of the grounds crew will be the drain as much of the rain as possible to create stable conditions for players. Seeing as this is an exhibition game for the world's best players, a needless injury would be catastrophic.
The situation is reminiscent of the 2017 evening in which Bryce Harper, after a rain delay, slipped on a slick first base and hyperextended his knee. The injury, sustained in mid-August, effectively ended his regular season. He returned more than a month later, just in time for the playoffs.
He was lucky. Thirty general managers across the league will have an opinion on the field condition tonight.
Ironically, the last time Washington, D.C., hosted the All-Star Game, in 1969, the Tuesday date was also rained out. That night, rain poured into the dugout at RFK Stadium, completely overwhelming the stadium's drainage system. The game was rescheduled for the following night.
Unlike in year's past, the regular season schedule will not resume until Friday instead of Thursday, which gives MLB an extra day in case of a rain out. However, this would require negotiation with the MLBPA and cause logistical nightmares for players and fans alike.
While rain is not expected to be an issue after 11 p.m., there's still a chance that a late rain storm could cause MLB to end the game early. To date, the only rain-shortened All-Star games were in 1951 and 1962.
