How Will Hurricane Hilary Affect San Diego Padres Games This Weekend?

A hurricane ... in Southern California?

The San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks are in the midst of a crucial four-game series at Petco Park. Most August games in Southern California avoid the risk of potentially being rained out, but this weekend, that's not the case.

As you've probably heard by now, Hurricane Hilary is coming up the Southern California coast and could bring heavy rains to San Diego this weekend.

If that were the case, the Padres vs. Diamondbacks game would of course be affected.

Hurricane Hilary is expected to get close enough to San Diego to bring heavy rain on Sunday. That means, Sunday's series finale would be at risk of postponement.

The Padres and Diamondbacks don't play again this season, but there are still a few options the teams could pursue to get this game played, as laid out by Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Saturday Doubleheader

The teams could play a doubleheader on Saturday, which Acee said has been discussed but is "not either team's preference."

This would be forward thinking, and would allow the teams to be off on Sunday altogether.

However, playing a doubleheader in one of the most important series of the season isn't exactly ideal.

Future Make-Up Game

The second option would be making up the game on a future date, and Acee points out that the teams share two days off later this year: September 21 and September 28.

On September 21, the Padres have a day off in between home series, however, the Diamondbacks have a home series before and a trip to New York after — so that would be complicated.

On September 28, the Padres would have to return home between a series in San Francisco and Chicago, while the Diamondbacks would have to stop in San Diego after their trip to Chicago before their final home stand of the year.

Obviously none of this would be ideal, but that's just what happens when a hurricane comes to Southern California.

We'll continue to update you on the team's plans regarding Hurricane Hilary.

UPDATE

The MLB has announced that the Padres (as well as the Dodgers and Angels) Sunday games have been rescheduled to Saturday doubleheaders.

The first game for the Padres vs. Diamondbacks on Saturday will be at 12:10 p.m. PT, while the second game will take place at 5:40 p.m. PT.

If you had tickets to Sunday's game, those will be valid for Saturday's 12:10 p.m. game.

Due to Hurricane Hilary’s expected arrival this weekend, MLB has rescheduled Sunday’s game vs. the Dbacks as part of a split doubleheader tomorrow.

More information: https://t.co/nupwrIjSG8 pic.twitter.com/iGnENBfyt5

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 18, 2023