BOSTON — A cold, damp day in Boston caused the Red Sox to make an early call to postpone the Orioles’ season opener Thursday, pushing opening day and all its festivities back to Friday instead.
The game, scheduled to be the first regular-season game with fans the teams have played since they ended the 2019 season at Fenway Park, will instead be held at 2 p.m. Friday, the Red Sox announced.
All tickets for Thursday will be honored Friday, the Red Sox said.
Rain is expected through the morning in Boston, but forecasts called for a more clear, if still cold, afternoon.
“The built-in off day was created for just this purpose and tomorrow’s forecast for sunshine also factored into our decision,” Red Sox president and CEO Sam Kennedy said in a statement. “We have been eager to have fans back at Fenway Park for the first time in 18 months and look forward to welcoming everyone back tomorrow under brighter and drier conditions.”
The postponement likely won’t have much influence on the Orioles’ plans, with opening day starter John Means pushed back an extra day.
However, the club still had to set their 26-man roster by noon Thursday and did so without any surprises. Outfielder DJ Stewart, whose absence due to a hamstring strain has lingered for nearly a month, was placed on the 10-day injured list and reliever Travis Lakins Sr. was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
Reliever Shawn Armstrong was placed on the paternity list as he and his wife, Sarah, are expecting their first son.
The Orioles’ opening day roster features 12 position players: catchers Pedro Severino and Chance Sisco; infielders Maikel Franco, Freddy Galvis, Trey Mancini, Rio Ruiz, Ramón Urías and Pat Valaika; and outfielders Austin Hays, Ryan Mountcastle, Cedric Mullins and Anthony Santander.
Of their 14-man pitching staff, five are starters in Means, Matt Harvey, Bruce Zimmermann, Jorge López and Dean Kremer. The bullpen features Tanner Scott, Paul Fry, César Valdez, Wade LeBlanc, Adam Plutko, Cole Sulser, Dillon Tate, Mac Sceroler and Tyler Wells.