ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Cardinals' highly anticipated Opening Day festivities were met with a rain delay, throwing a wrench into the plans for the start of their 2025 regular season. Originally set to kick off against the Minnesota Twins at Busch Stadium at 3:15 p.m. on March 27, 2025, the game has been postponed due to inclement weather.
As of 2:20 p.m. on the same day, the team had not yet announced new times for the pregame ceremonies or the first pitch, leaving fans eagerly waiting for updates. Derrick Goold from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch first reported the delay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Despite the rain, the festivities began on time, with the famous Budweiser Clydesdales making their traditional trip around the field at 2:25 p.m. However, the tarp remained on the field, and the expected motorcade featuring National Baseball and Cardinals Hall of Famers did not take place as scheduled.
Chief Meteorologist Scott Connell from 5 On Your Side reported that there were instances of cloud-to-ground lightning near Busch Stadium but noted that the storm was moving north and east of the metro area, suggesting that the weather might clear up soon. “The back edge of the storm is getting close to St. Louis,” Connell stated at 3 p.m. “It’s not out of the question to have some isolated showers and rumbles around this afternoon, but I think we’ll be able to get in.”
For fans unable to attend the game in person, there are several ways to catch the action. The game will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, MLB.TV, or Fubo TV. Pregame coverage was initially scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. on the FanDuel Sports Network, which will feature interviews and live coverage of the delayed ceremonies. Local radio station 104.1 FM KMOX will also provide coverage for those wishing to listen.
Tickets for the home opener are still available, starting at $84 before fees on the Cardinals' official website and $74 before fees on Ticketmaster. Fans are encouraged to check availability as the excitement builds for the season opener.
The Cardinals are entering their 134th season in the National League with a roster that includes first-time Cardinal Phil Maton. Last season, the team posted an overall record of 83-79 and performed well at home, finishing with a 44-37 record. They averaged 8.4 hits per game and hit a total of 165 home runs.
Looking ahead to the matchup, the Cardinals will face the Twins' right-handed pitcher Pablo López, who had a record of 15-10 and an ERA of 4.08 in 2024. The Cardinals will counter with their own right-hander, Sonny Gray, who finished last season with a 13-9 record and an ERA of 3.84.
This matchup marks the earliest season opener in the Twins' franchise history and the second time they have opened against a National League team, the first being in 2021 against Milwaukee. The Twins have a historical edge over the Cardinals in interleague play, with a record of 20-19, including 10-14 in St. Louis.
In 2023, the Twins managed to take two out of three games against the Cardinals at Target Field, and they famously defeated St. Louis in the 1987 World Series. The Cardinals, on the other hand, are looking to improve upon their previous season's performance, where they tied the Chicago Cubs for second place in the NL Central, ten games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers.
As for the Cardinals' offseason moves, they had a relatively quiet period, with their only significant signing being relief pitcher Phil Maton. Maton is expected to bolster the bullpen as the team aims to rebound from the previous season's struggles.
On the injury front, the Twins will be missing several key players, including third baseman Royce Lewis, infielder Brooks Lee, and relief pitchers Brock Stewart and Michael Tonkin, all of whom are sidelined due to various injuries.
As the rain continues to fall, fans remain hopeful that the weather will clear up, allowing for the Opening Day festivities to resume. The excitement surrounding the Cardinals' season opener is palpable, with fans eager to see how the team will perform in what promises to be an exciting season.
Stay tuned for updates on the rescheduled times for the Opening Day ceremonies and the first pitch as the Cardinals and Twins prepare to battle it out in St. Louis.
