Nats-Phillies opener postponed by unplayable infield

PHILADELPHIA - After experiencing two postponements and a doubleheader that wasn't completed until 1:42 a.m. this weekend in Washington, the Nationals are now looking at a likely delay (and potential postponement) in Philadelphia due to an unplayable infield that was not covered while the Phillies were out of town in recent days.

Yes, the status of tonight's series opener at Citizens Bank Park is up in the air at the moment because the infield may not be playable in time, despite the furious efforts of groundskeepers right now to dry it out with the use of five blowtorches.

Oh, and did we mention tonight's forecast (a 30 percent chance of showers) is the best it's going to be over the next three days? And that the Nationals already are going to attempt to play a rescheduled game against the Cubs in D.C. on Thursday before heading to Atlanta for a three-game series, just as Hurricane Florence is expected to wreak havoc on the East Coast?

"Hopefully, they get it fixed," manager Davey Martinez said. "We'd like to play today. It'd be nice to get a game in. This weather has been unpredictable. We're going to be ready to play, and hopefully they get it fixed."

Though the rain today has been light, and though the tarp was covering the infield earlier this afternoon, it apparently was not covering the infield earlier in the weekend when a significant amount of rain fell here. That left the infield dirt a mess, not simply wet but also thick and clumpy.

Groundskeepers began working on rectifying the situation around 4 p.m., a process that included drying the dirt with blowtorches powered by propane tanks. Nearly two hours later, they still have roughly one-quarter of the infield to go.

"It's actually working," Phillies vice president of business affairs Howard Smith told reporters as the blowtorching was taking place.

The blowtorches alone, though, aren't enough to get the field in condition suitable for a major league game. It must be rolled and pressed down, a process that's currently taking place along the first base line (to questionable effect).

Players and coaches from both teams, plus three members of tonight's umpiring crew, have ventured out at different points to get a closer look at things. Stephen Strasburg stepped onto the dirt along the third base line and - at least from a distance - did not seem content with the state of things.

If all else fails, perhaps they can turn to a backup plan apparently common in the minor leagues back in the day. Both Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo mentioned they used to pour gasoline on a wet infield and set it on fire. Remarkably, that works (though no word on how many injuries were sustained over the years as a result of it).

Update: The game has been postponed. We're awaiting word on a makeup.