The Clock Starts Later Than Planned
The Atlanta Braves road trip hit a weather pushback that’s forcing fans to wait longer for the first pitch. Inclement weather hammered the area around Target Field right before the scheduled start on August 17, 2026. According to Battery Power, the Minnesota Twins confirmed the game would begin in a rain delay. It’s a pause that changes the rhythm of the night, not a cancellation.
The long and winding road trip for the Atlanta Braves is getting off to a delayed start.
Start Time and Pitching Matchup Details
Fans can now pencil in an estimated start time of 8:30 p.m. ET for the contest. CJ Nitkowski posted this update on The Website Formerly Known as Twitter to clarify the situation. Game #125 is currently in a feign delay with that specific time set for action. The pitching matchup remains Martin Perez versus Bailey Ober despite the weather. This is a very generically solid lineup for Martin Perez to deal with according to the preview.
No one below .310 xwOBA-wise until the seventh spot in the Twins order.
The numbers suggest Perez has a tough task ahead even without the rain. He’s staring down a top-to-bottom unit that doesn’t offer an easy out until the bottom of the order. You can’t just fade the bottom of the lineup when the xwOBA is that flat across the board.
Why the Delay Matters for Strategy
A late start changes how teams manage their bullpen and how fans plan their evening. The delay started just a few minutes before Atlanta was set to do baseball battle with the Minnesota Twins. Grounds crews prepped the tarp during the fifth inning of a similar game in May 2026 to show how these situations play out. An Ivan preview posted a picture of that thunderstorm in today’s preview which proved accurate. The Twins tweeted that they will provide more details when they become available. Waiting for the weather to clear is the only option right now.
The Braves cannot control the sky, but they can control their approach once the tarp comes off. Martin Perez must navigate a lineup that lacks a clear weak spot until the bottom third. The xwOBA numbers show a solid block of hitters that will test his command. A delay often helps a pitcher warm up properly if the break is long enough. If the game starts at 8:30 p.m. ET, the conditions might be cooler for the arm. The Twins will have to adjust their own strategy to the new timeline. This is a test of patience for the entire fan base in the stands.
The final word on the delay comes from the official updates provided by the team. The Minnesota Twins stated they will be starting tonight’s game in an @uponor rain delay. The specific time of 8:30 p.m. ET gives everyone a target to aim for.
