UPDATE: Yankees, Rays weather report: When will game begin? (8/19/25)

UPDATE 8:55 p.m.): The rain has come and gone, the tarp is off the field and the first pitch is scheduled for around 9:30 p.m.

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TAMPA, Fla. — After 30 minutes of heavy rain and lightning in Tampa on Tuesday, the skies cleared and it looked like the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays’ series opener at Steinbrenner Field wouldn’t be played.

The teams took batting practice, then everyone stood for the anthem and then …

The tarp was rolled onto the field around 7:30 p.m. with no rain at the moment but heavy showers and more lightning on the way.

Here is weather.com’s Tuesday forecast for Tampa:

7:45 p.m.: Scattered thunderstorms, 36 percent.

8 p.m.: Thunderstorms, 68 percent.

8:30 p.m.: Showers, 59 percent.

9 p.m.: Heavy rain, 60 percent.

10 p.m.: Partly cloudy.

11 p.m.: P