Dodgers rain delay: How is this happening to NLDS Game 4 in San Diego?

UPDATE: Per Bob Nightengale, it’s a 7:07 Pacific start.

With the 111-win Dodgers teetering on the brink of elimination in Game 4 at the hands of the Wild Card San Diego Padres, the Baseball Gods somehow had an entirely unexpected challenge in mind, too. Perhaps at the request of the Baseball Friars?

For some ungodly reason, the Dodgers’ ice-cold bats will have to wait a little longer for a shot at being thawed, as rainfall in San Diego, of all places, has put a halt to first pitch.

The rain is so disruptive that, over an hour before first pitch, the executives in San Diego had already made the call that this all-important contest would not be starting on time.

As the clock strikes nine, fans everywhere are still hungry for an update. Instead, they’ve been served a tarp.

Dodgers Weather: Somehow, there’s a rain delay in San Diego

A tarp? They … they even have one of those in SD? Alrighty then.

Whenever the game begins, the Dodgers’ lineup will head into battle against Joe Musgrove, coming off a controversially dominant outing against the Mets that sent the Padres into this series in the first place.

Chris Taylor is back in the order, batting eighth and playing left field, with Gavin Lux hitting ninth and playing second. Cody Bellinger is on the bench, joined by fellow slugger Joey Gallo.

The Dodgers anticipate a 6:15 PM update on the conditions of the playing field, though the conditions of Dodger fans’ mental health seems to be a bit worse for wear.

Come on, now! How do you publish this before the team’s even eliminated? Or, uh, ever?

The Dodgers will play a ballgame tonight. Hopefully, their NL West reign doesn’t end after the rain does.