Do Baseball Games Get Cancelled For Rain?

The answer is usually no, but there are a few conditions that could lead to a game getting cancelled due to rain.

The MLB Rule Book

In the event of rain, a baseball game can be postponed or even cancelled. Postponed games are made up at a later date, while cancelled games are not. The decision to postpone or cancel a game is made by the umpires. If the game has already begun, the umpires can decide to call the game due to rain.

section 4.10

4.10 OFFICIAL PLAYERS

(a) Each League shall have on its active list not more than 25 players and any number of inactive players as provided in Rule 4.03, all of whom shall be under uniform contract with the League club of that League for the current championship season except as may be permitted by these rules. Any player on such a list who is not under contract with a League club or who is on outright assignment to a minor league shall not be an official player and no ERA shall be charged to him. No pitcher shall be an official player unless he has pitched at least five innings in one or more of his starts. However, any pitcher who has started a game and has been removed before pitching five innings, due to injury or any other reason, such as rain, etc., shall be considered an official player if he pitches at least one complete inning without being replaced by another pitcher (including situations where he returns to pitch additional innings). Should two games in the same championship season end due to rain while tied after regulation play without the required number of innings having been completed to render pitchers official players under this rule, the pitching statistics up to the point when play was terminated in both games will count for purposes of this rule (i.e., if both games are halted after four innings with each starting pitcher having pitched three complete innings and neither having reached the five-inning mark mentioned above prior to the termination of play, both pitchers would be considered official players).

section 4.11

4.11 If a Regulation Game is suspended, it shall become a Protested Game, and the score shall be the same as it was at the moment of suspension. The game must be resumed at the exact point of suspension, and upon resumption, shall be played to its completion under Protest. A League may waive this rule under extraordinary circumstances.

4.12 If a Game is terminated prior to becoming official, as defined in 4.01, for reasons other than weather conditions, and the home team is leading after five (5) innings have been completed, or after four and one-half (41/2) innings if the home team is ahead, it shall be declared a complete game. If the score is tied after five (5) innings have been completed efforts shall be made to reschedule the game in its entirety. If this is not possible or if play is still tied after nine (9) innings have been completed or after seven and one-half (71/2) innings if the visiting team has scored one or more runs in the top half of the ninth inning or inn ings subsequent thereto, then the game will end as a tie.

Weather Forecasts

The games do get postponed due to the rain. The reason is that the players and the umpires would be at risk of getting injured if they were to slip on the wet surface. The games can be rescheduled for a later date or time, but they cannot be played in the rain.

National Weather Service

The National Weather Service (NWS) is a scientific organization within the United States federal government that is tasked with providing weather forecasts, warnings, and advisories to the American people.

NWS products include:

-Short-term forecasts (also known as “public forecast products”), which provide predictions of weather conditions for the next six hours to seven days
-Long-range forecasts (also known as “seasonal outlooks”), which give predictions of what general weather conditions may be like over the next month or season
-Warning and advisory products, which are issued when hazardous weather is imminent or occurring

The NWS also conducts research on weather-related topics and provides information to the public about important weather safety issues.

Field Maintenance

If a game is cancelled due to field conditions it is usually for one of two reasons, either the infield is too wet or the outfield is too wet. If the infield is too wet it can cause bad hops and make it difficult for players to field the ball cleanly. If the outfield is too wet it can make it difficult for the ball to travel as far as it should and can cause bad hops as well.

section 3.01

3.01 Field Maintenance. In the event that a game is cancelled due to inclement weather, the home team is responsible for maintaining the field in a playable condition. If the field is deemed unplayable by the league, the game will be rescheduled.

Postponed Games

A game may be postponed due to bad weather if the safety of the players and fans is at risk. If a game is postponed, it is rescheduled for a later date. If the weather forecast for the day of the game is poor, the decision to postpone the game is made early in the day.

section 4.12

In the event of bad weather, games can be postponed until a later date. If both teams are scheduled to play each other again, the game is usually played on the next available day at the same venue. However, if both teams are not scheduled to play each other again, the game may be made up as part of a doubleheader.