"What if it rains tomorrow (the 18th) for the preliminary playoffs?" Rain forecasted in Gwangju: No rainout or rain cold game → Game proceeds OR suspended only possible

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Rain is forecasted across all of Gwangju on the 18th as the Preliminary Playoffs (Prelim PO) have just begun. What happens if it rains during game time?

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) has established detailed criteria for determining whether to resume a game in the event of rain during postseason play. On the 17th, the KBO announced the implementation rules for rainy weather during the postseason, which include these details.

The postseason is inevitably more sensitive to rain forecasts because already confirmed schedules may be delayed.

With the first game held at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on this day ending in a 5-1 victory for the KIA Tigers, the second game will be held at the same location starting at 2 p.m. on the 18th. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, there is no rain forecast until the start of the game, but conditions could become problematic after the mid-game stage.

Rain is expected to fall lightly at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field from around 4 p.m. As things stand, there does not appear to be a major issue in completing the game, but concerns will inevitably grow if weather conditions worsen.

According to the KBO, the implementation rules for rainy weather during the postseason prioritize the safety of players and spectators, and decide whether to proceed with the game by comprehensively considering weather forecasts, ground conditions, and required maintenance time. Before the start of the game, the game operations committee makes the decision; after the start, the game operations committee and the umpiring committee consult to make the decision.

The implementation rules announced this time are centered on applying the postseason suspended game regulations, which were revised in January 2025 and implemented from last season, and the criteria for determining game resumption during rainy weather in the regular season, established at the fourth executive committee meeting in October 2026, to the postseason.

If rainy conditions persist, a minimum of 30 minutes of waiting is required according to baseball rules, after which it is decided whether to resume the game or declare a suspended game. If additional waiting is needed after the 30th-minute wait, the point 50 minutes after the interruption serves as the final decision point. The final decision is made considering the required maintenance time and future weather forecasts. Additionally, if the game has been interrupted two or more times, the decision is made by aggregating the interruption times.

If resumption is decided, the home team must actively deploy available equipment, personnel, and materials to make efforts for a swift game resumption.

Furthermore, even in situations where it is not raining before the game, if an early-game interruption is strongly anticipated due to rain within 30 minutes after the start, tarpaulins may be laid down in advance and the game start delayed.

Meanwhile, no games are declared no-games or rain cold games in KBO postseason play since last year; only the suspended game rule applies.

If a suspended game is established, play resumes from the situation at the time of interruption, regardless of the inning in which it was suspended, and only one game is played per day. Existing scheduled games are postponed to the scheduled start time of the next day's game. If the next day is a travel day, the game is played on the travel day, and the entire schedule for that series is postponed by one day. If the next day is the final game day of the series, the game is played on the next day or a travel day, and the entire postseason schedule is postponed by one day.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original