Rob Thomson said Nick Castellanos diving catch to force an out in the first inning set the tone for the rest of the defense in Game 3.

He felt the most pivotal moment, though, was getting through the fifth inning, when starter Ranger Suárez was faced with the Astros top hitters at bat.

“I thought Ranger really pitched well, the poise is through the roof,” Thomson said.

With Suárez pitching five innings, where he allowed just four hits and had four strikeouts, Thomson feels confident about the place of his bullpen.

“I feel good about it,” Thomson said. “We have some guys rested for sure, everybody has really executed.”

Thomson will have Noah Syndergaard start Game 5 on Thursday night.

— Isabella DiAmore

If timing is everything, then Bryce Harper is all things.

Harper hit a home run on the first pitch he saw as a Phillie playing in a World Series at Citizens Bank Park. He did it in the first World Series game at the Bank in 13 years, which the Phillies won, 7-0.

Harper’s cannon shot unleashed a five-homer barrage from five Phillies — Harper, then Alec Bohm, Brandon Marsh, Kyle Schwarber, and Rhys Hoskins — that finally chased Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. from Game 3 of the World Series in a seven-run hole with one out in the fifth inning, his ears ringing. If McCullers’ hearing wasn’t impaired by the cracks of the bats, then it was diminished by the jet-engine roars from the 45,712 that accompanied them.

» READ MORE: Bryce Harper’s legend grows as he homers on first World Series pitch he sees at Citizens Bank Park

— Marcus Hayes

As Bryce Harper jogged the final 45 feet of a home-run trot in the first inning Tuesday night, he looked directly into a Fox television camera that followed him up the third-base line.

“This is my house,” he said.

Sorry, but for the first time in this wild ride of a Phillies postseason, Harper was wrong. With all due respect to Mr. October/November — and let there be no doubt that Harper owns both months until further notice — this house belongs to you. All of you. The 45,000-plus that have packed the place, rocked the joint, and generally turned Citizens Bank Park into the place to be in South Philly again.

It was raucous in the divisional round, ear-shattering in the National League Championship Series, and when the World Series returned to town for the first time in 4,747 nights — and the Phillies set a World Series record with five home runs in a 7-0 Game 3 throttling of the Houston Astros to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series — well, you just had to be here.

You had to feel the concrete shake beneath your feet and hear the screams of “Chea-ters!” directed at the Astros, residue from their 2017 sign-stealing escapades. The noise began even before the pregame introductions and kept on building. It grew positively deafening when Nick Castellanos made another of his patented sliding catches on the first pitch of the game to steal a hit from Jose Altuve and got louder with every home run.

From Harper’s two-run shot to solos by Alec Bohm and Brandon Marsh in the second inning, Kyle Schwarber’s titanic two-run clout off the shrubbery on the batter’s eye in the fifth inning, and Rhys Hoskins’ missile to left field five pitches later, the decibel level grew by a magnitude.

» READ MORE: Phillies bash record five homers to rout Astros 7-0 and take 2-1 lead in the World Series

— Scott Lauber

Another homer for the Phillies, this time it was Kyle Schwarber…Oh then it was Rhys Hoskins.

Schwarber notched his fourth home run in the postseason off a flying two run homer into the bushes of center field (the furthest point from home plate in Citizens Bank Park), scoring Brandon Marsh.

With one out, Rhys Hoskins stepped up to the plate, who’s been quiet at-bat so far, and nailed a single homer out to left field.

Hoskins’ run led the Astros to a pitching change in the fifth inning. Starter Lance McCullers Jr. was relieved by right-hander Ryne Stanek.

McCuller allowed six hits, seven runs, five homers and had five strikeouts.

— Isabella DiAmore

Game 3 of the World Series was just the second Phillies game that Ty Kuhner, 10, of Wilmington, Del., has attended this season at Citizens Bank Park.

But he has been a Phillies fan “as long as I’ve been alive,” he said, and the kid came prepared. He had his glove with him as he and his sister, Madison, 13, sat in the first row of the right-field bleachers Tuesday night.

And when Brandon Marsh lofted a deep drive to right field — right at Ty — he knew what to do.

He reached out, and the ball landed right in his mitt. It just didn’t stay there.

For a few moments, there was an expectant and collective holding-of-breath around the park, as everyone in the place wondering whether Kuhner was the 21st century’s answer to Jeffrey Maier, the young Yankees fan who changed the course of the 1996 American League Championship Series by reaching over the right-field wall to grab a Derek Jeter fly ball, turning it into a home run.

Fortunately for Marsh and the Phillies, though, the umpires determined that Marsh’s long drive had been long enough.

The home run, the Phillies’ third of the game, gave them a four-run lead in the bottom of the second inning. It turned Ty into a focus of national attention. And it gave the Kuhner kids, whose parents, Kris and Stef, were sitting a few rows above them, a memory they’ll likely never forget.

And no, Kuhner said, no one booed him when he dropped the ball.

“Just Astros fans,” he said.

» READ MORE: A 10-year-old Phillies fan gets national attention trying to catch Brandon Marsh’s home run

— Mike Sielski

The stars are out Tuesday for the return of the World Series to South Philadelphia.

Tim McGraw, wearing his dad’s old No. 45 jersey, was shown between innings on Phanavision along with U.S. soccer star Carli Lloyd, Eagles star Haason Reddick, Kamal Gray of the Roots and Hollywood star Miles Teller. McGraw threw out the first pitch before Game 3 of the 2008 World Series and spread some of Tug McGraw’s ashes on the mound that night.

— Matt Breen

Alec Bohm opened the bottom of the second inning with a single homer to left center field, marking his first home run of the postseason.

Two outs later, Brandon Marsh stepped up to the plate, where he nailed another solo homer out to right center field off a 83.7 mph slider from Lance McCullers Jr. for his second homer in the postseason for a 4-0 lead.

— Isabella DiAmore

Bryce Harper does it again.

The slugger hit a two-run homer out to right-center field, scoring Kyle Schwarber and putting the Phillies on the board 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning.

Harper’s home run marked his sixth of the postseason, and it surely got this crowd going with the fans on the edge of their seats, waving the red rally towel.

— Isabella DiAmore

Just a random thought as we get going with Game 3: The uber-raucous crowds at Citizens Bank Park have, without a doubt, given the Phillies a huge home-field advantage. But I wonder if the Astros, being the most hated team in Major League Baseball and all, might be better inoculated against the noise and commotion. They’re more used to it than other teams.

— Mike Sielski

The signs were everywhere for Game 3 of the World Series in South Philly Tuesday, from a rainbow in the sky over Phillies headquarters to cheeky cardboard signs in fans’ hands.

Outside Citizens Bank Park, across from Lincoln Field where the Eagles were flying a Phillies banner, Jon Daniels, 43, of Ridley, and his son, Jonathan, 16, ran into Phillies legend Charlie Manuel and grabbed a selfie with him.

“Hopefully this is a sign of great things to come,” the elder Daniels said.

Jay Kunaszuk, 71, of Coshohocken, was drinking a Miller Lite and sporting his vintage 1980 World Series coat outside the stadium. A season-ticket holder since 1976, this will be his sixth Phillies World Series.

“If you live long enough you get a chance to do that,” he said.

Kunaszuk said he thinks this Phillies team surprised everybody, himself included.

“This team seems like they want to play for [manager] Rob [Thomson] and for each other,” he said.

Rick Feliciano, 62, of Bethlehem, an Iron Pigs season-ticket holder, wore his Pigs jersey to the game.

“We raise these kids to play in the World Series,” he said. “I’m a proud papa. They are all my kids.”

Feliciano said the Phillies have never lost when he’s worn his Pigs jersey to Citizens Bank Park.

Rich Duranto, 55, of Ridley, wore a vintage Tug McGraw jersey, a giant eagle head, and carried a sign that cannot be repeated here (let’s just say it was a variation of an expletive where he replaced ‘you’ with ‘Hou’).

He called Houston “literally trash” and said “We don’t need luck, we’re the Fightins.”

Duranto said he plans to watch both Philly games against Houston simultaneously Thursday when the Phillies play the Astros in Game 5 and the Eagles play at the Texans. When asked how, he said “with a remote.”

Ken Seagreaves, 68, of Bethlehem brought his “In Topper we trust” sign for Thomson and his baseball mitt from elementary school. He cried when his daughter told him she got him World Series tickets.

“This is my first World Series,” he said. “I’m like a little boy again.”

Rose McManus, 25, of South Philly and Emily Brennecke, 25 of Springfield, made their “Bohmer alert” sign after Bohmer “ripped the double” and Brennecke and yelled “Bohmer alert!”

“We love him. He’s a cutie, he’s our age, and we hope he sees us tonight,” McManus said of third baseman Alec Bohm.

Wendy Madouse of Lehigh Valley, was hoping Bryce Harper would see her. She carried a sign that said “It’s Harper time” on one side and “Hit me with your best shot Harper” on the other side.

Madouse, who turned 60 this year, said the World Series was on her bucket list.

“Luckily, I have a friend with the same bucket list and she got us tickets,” she said. “I’m so excited! Hopefully Harper will hit a ball to me.”

Kristina Godio, 37, and her son Joey, 14, of Lansdale, wore their Phillies astronaut Halloween costumes to Tuesday’s rescheduled game to troll the Astros.

“We brainstormed and this was the obvious response,” she said.

The sign they carried read: “Houston YOU have a problem.”

Among the handful of Astros fans at Tuesday’s game were Angie and Santiago Moreno, Houston natives who now live in New York City. They said they’d gotten some boos from Phillies fans, but not too many.

“To be honest, we’ve been treated very nicely,” Angie Santiago, 31, said. “Take another quote after the game and we’ll see how it goes.”

She said a Phillies fan saw them trying to take a selfie and offered to take their photo. Angie Santiago made him promise not to smash her phone.

“He said ‘We’ll be friends now, but don’t look back during the game,’” she said.

For Phillies fans at Citizens Bank Park, there was only looking forward to the start of the game Tuesday night and a World Series win down the road.

— Stephanie Farr

Can the Phillies stay perfect at home this postseason? So far they are 5-0 at Citizens Bank Park in the playoffs and have battered their opponents by an aggregate score of 35-15.

Going back further, they have won 21 of their last 28 home playoff games. “There’s nothing like it,” Bryce Harper said recently about coming home. “We’re excited to get back.”

“I think it will be up another notch or two,” shortstop Bryson Stott said

— Matt Breen and Gus Elvin

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said earlier he is confident in Game 3 starter Ranger Suárez tonight and the numbers back up why. Let’s hope the Phillies can keep this trend going.

— Gus Elvin

Aaron Nola will return to the mound Wednesday night as the Phillies’ Game 4 starter.

The right-hander threw 4.1 innings in his Game 1 start, a 6-5 victory for the Phillies. He allowed six hits, five runs and had five strikeouts on 81 pitches. He found himself in some early trouble after Kyle Tucker homered twice off of him. However, he retired the final six batters he faced and left in a tie game after the Phils rallied from an early 5-0 deficit.

When asked about how his arm is feeling ahead of his start, Nola said the last thing on his mind is fatigue. ”I don’t think any of us are really fatigued,” Nola said. “I think the World Series and this late in the season, [we’re] jammed up a little bit more, makes the body feel good, especially when you step out on that field in front of all these people and this crowd.”

Nola said he was asked by the coaches if he would be ready to start in Game 4. His response: “Completely fine to go.” He’s expected to go head-to-head with Astros ace Justin Verlander, who also started Game 1. ”The body feels good and my arm feels good, that’s all that matters right now,” Nola said.

— Isabella DiAmore

For the second straight playoff series, a Phillies player is facing off against his brother. While the Nolas, Aaron and Austin, took center stage last round, the Matons, Nick and Phil, are going head to head in the World Series.

The two will not literally faceoff in the Fall Classic — Phil, a pitcher, is out with a broken finger — but that didn’t stop the brothers from sharing a special moment on the field ahead of Game 3 with their mom.

— Gus Elvin

If you need another way to measure the surge of Robyn’s 2010 classic “Dancing On My Own” or its various covers, just go to a local karaoke night.

Veteran karaoke DJ Sara Sherr was hosting one of her regular nights two weeks ago — in the heart of Red October — when she got her first request for the Tiësto remix of Calum Scott’s cover of the song. That’s the official Phillies’ version, much to the chagrin of some Robyn purists. To Sherr, it was a testament to the team’s moment (and probably a better fit for the average drunk person’s vocal range).

”It was rare that people would ask for his version before the Phillies boosted the profile,” Sherr said. “I think that the Calum Scott version is probably easier to sing due to its lower key, and Robyn has a much higher voice, which can be more difficult for a lot of singers — not that it stopped them before.”

» READ MORE: Philly karaoke DJs say ‘Dancing On My Own’ has taken off because of the Phillies’ World Series run

— Max Marin

Astros manager Dusty Baker said he will tentatively start Justin Verlander in Game 5 on Thursday in Philadelphia.

“Well, not for sure, but it’s in pencil, not in ink,” Baker said of whether he will start the future Hall of Fame pitcher.

When asked whether Verlander would be able to pitch in Game 7 if he pitched in Game 4, Baker said they “haven’t gotten that far.”

“I mean, we’ve thought about it, you know, with the days off and different things,” Baker said. “We’d rather not pitch him on short rest because we still got to take care of Verlander. So we would rather pitch him on one more day’s rest versus one day less rest.”

» READ MORE: Phillies hope rest will help Zack Wheeler bring his velocity back up

— Alex Coffey

Rob Thomson said Tuesday that ace Zack Wheeler will benefit from the extra days of rest after his Game 2 start.

The Phillies manager noted yesterday that Wheeler was fatigued and will likely start Game 6 on Saturday night in Houston, assuming the series goes that far.

”When he went on the IL, we brought him back, and not that we rushed him, but we ramped him up pretty quick,” Thomson said. “I think that took its toll on him a little bit, and I think that’s why you’re seeing now the velocity go down a little bit.”

Wheeler’s fastball maxed out at 96.9 mph Saturday night in Houston, down from 99.5 mph six days earlier against the Padres in the NLCS. He finished his night surrendering four earned runs on six hits and three walks. He struck out three and threw 41 strikes on 69 pitches.

— Isabella DiAmore

Rob Thomson feels confident in Game 3 starter Ranger Suárez, after replacing right-hander Noah Syndergaard with Suárez following Monday’s rainout.

Suárez came in as a reliever in Game 1 of the World Series, and got two key outs, striking out Yordan Álvarez to end the seventh inning, and getting Alex Bregman to ground out to begin the eighth.

When asked how Suárez will handle his first start on baseball’s biggest stage, Thomson responded with a grin, “He doesn’t get nervous. He’s pretty calm in character.

“You saw what he did in Game 5 of the Padres series, it doesn’t matter the game state, the inning, what the score is, what his role is — He just goes out and pitches.”

— Isabella DiAmore

Already an iron man, J.T. Realmuto is now tinged with gold.

Realmuto won the Gold Glove Award as the best defensive catcher in the National League, Rawlings Sporting Goods and Major League Baseball announced Tuesday before he led the Phillies into Game 3 of the World Series at Citizens Bank Park.

It marks Realmuto’s second Gold Glove (he also won in 2019) and the fifth time that a Phillies catcher has brought home the award. Bob Boone won the Gold Glove in 1978 and 1979, while Mike Lieberthal was the winner in 1999.

— Scott Lauber

The Astros lineup was released a short time ago and there aren’t many changes from Game 2.

The one change to the batting order is that journeyman David Hensley will replace Aledmys Díaz in the seven-hole for the ‘Stros. Hensley will serve as the designated hitter, while star slugger Yordan Álvarez, who DH’d in Game 2, will slot into left field. West Chester’s Chas McCormack will bat eighth and start in center field.

— Gus Elvin

— Stephanie Farr

— Scott Lauber

Phoenix Suns wing Mikal Bridges is one of the top young “three-and-D” guys in the NBA. The Philadelphia native and former Villanova star is also a diehard Phillies fan.

The bad news for Bridges is that Monday’s rainout means he will likely be unable to watch any of Game 3, with the Phillies-Astros start time set for 8:03 p.m. and the Suns tipping off tonight at 10 p.m. against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Bridges did manage to catch the final out of the Phillies’ Game 1 victory and seemed quite pleased about it. The Bally Sports broadcasters even joked he might have had an earpiece in listening to the World Series game while playing.

The good news for Bridges is that the Suns are off Wednesday and Thursday so he can watch his beloved Phillies in peace!

— Gus Elvin

— Scott Lauber

Philly sports fans face quite a dilemma Thursday night.

Because of Monday’s rain delay, the Phillies will take on the Houston Astros in Game 5 of the World Series at 8:03 p.m. More than 1,500 miles away, the undefeated Eagles will face the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on Thursday Night Football, with kickoff scheduled for 8:15 p.m.

While the Eagles’ game will stream on Amazon’s Prime Video, all Thursday Night Football games air on broadcast television in their local markets, mostly on Fox affiliates. Because of the delay, Game 5 of the World Series will air on Fox 29 Thursday night, and Eagles-Texans will move to WPHL 17.

For those outside the Philadelphia TV market, Thursday Night Football games air in more than 300,000 sports bars, restaurants, and hotel lounges nationwide through the DirecTV for Business package, thanks to a deal between Amazon and DirecTV.

» READ MORE: Eagles-Texans will still air on TV in Philly, despite Phillies World Series delay

— Rob Tornoe

You can count the Flyers among those who have Phillies fever, as the players traded their customary suits for Phillies jerseys on Monday as they boarded a train to New York City ahead of tonight’s game against the Rangers.

— Gus Elvin

Phillies legend Chase Utley took a minute to reflect on two key plays he made in the 2008 World Series that helped power Philadelphia past the Tampa Bay Rays.

Back in August, Utley moved to England with his family to work as MLB’s ambassador to the United Kingdom. MLB is leaning on Utley to spread the gospel of baseball to British fans before it returns next year for a regular season series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs.

There were rumblings before the pandemic about the Phillies playing the Mets in London so it would not be a surprise to see the two teams meet in England during one of the next few seasons. For Shaw, that would be a dream.

» READ MORE: Chase Utley has moved to England to spread the gospel of baseball — and he’s already converted one Brit

— Rob Tornoe and Matt Breen

The Phillies are proving to be a decent draw for Fox.

Through two games, the World Series is averaging 11.3 million viewers per night across Fox, Fox Deportes, and on the Fox Sports app, according to numbers provided by the network

Game 1, which featured the Phillies’ comeback win in extra innings, averaged nearly 11.7 million viewers, up 6 percent compared to last year’s Game 1 between the Braves and Astros (which took place on a Tuesday night). Game 2 Saturday night drew just short of 11 million viewers. Philadelphia was the top TV market for Game 2, drawing a 23.5 share (Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and San Diego were the other top markets).

Due to Monday’s rain delay, Fox is going to face some stiff competition in the coming days. On Thursday, Game 5 of the World Series will go up against Thursday Night Football on Amazon’s Prime Video, which features the Eagles and the Houston Texans — the same markets glued to the World Series.

If the series extends to seven games, the final game of the World Series on Sunday night will go up against Sunday Night Football on NBC, which this week features the Tennessee Titans taking on the Kansas City Chiefs. For sake of comparison, Sunday Night Football is averaging 19.2 million viewers per game this season through Week 7, according to numbers compiled by Sports Media Watch.

— Rob Tornoe

Fans who attend a World Series game in Philadelphia may have to resort to taking a screenshot of their digital ticket if they’re looking for something to scrapbook.

Homer Robinson of North Carolina has tickets to attend Game 3 with his kids and was hoping to get physical tickets as a keepsake or exchange his e-tickets for physical tickets once at the ballpark.

“The real tickets are such cool souvenirs,” Robinson said.

The Phillies offer traditional printed tickets or digital passes during regular-season games. But for post-season, team officials confirmed that tickets would be 100% digital.

Deb Rinaldi, a Phillies spokesperson, said it’s a sign of the times. Digital tickets are used in most major sporting events for convenience and security — the technology makes it harder to create dupes.

A Phillies guest services team member said they hadn’t heard negative feedback about the digital tickets.

Still, if you’re looking for a physical memento without having to wait in a souvenir-shop line, there are some options. First-time Citizens Bank attendees who are 14 or younger can request a certificate from guest services.

And for a more creative workaround, you can make your own non-functioning ticket stub.

TikTok user Nattie G posted a tutorial explaining how she makes her own commemorative fake ticket stubs to keep track of concerts she’s attended over the years.

“My concert tickets sometimes are digital or I don’t have them,” she said. “So I make my own.”

» READ MORE: ‘100% digital:’ No printed tickets for Phillies World Series games

— Emily Bloch

First lady Jill Biden will attend Game 4 of the World Series Wednesday, after a rain delay pushed back the series a day.

Biden — the White House’s biggest Phillies fan — will take part in Major League Baseball’s Stand Up To Cancer initiative.

The first lady was at Citizens Bank Park in September for the Phillies’ Childhood Cancer Night and was at the Linc earlier this month as the Eagles beat the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football as part of the league’s Crucial Catch cancer initiative.

Jill Biden was there in 2008 when the Phillies won the World Series while Joe Biden campaigned for the presidential election that was five weeks away. Jimmy Rollins campaigned for the Obama-Biden ticket that fall and gave his red Phillies jacket to Jill Biden before a World Series game. The shortstop was her favorite player, causing then-Vice President Joe Biden to give Rollins some grief during a news conference in 2012. Rollins will be in the park on Tuesday as he throws a ceremonial first pitch.

The first lady grew up in Willow Grove and has never been shy about her Philly fandom. She’s been using that fandom this year to raise awareness for cancer as President Biden and the first lady reignited the Cancer Moonshot — the initiative they started during Joe Biden’s vice presidency — with the goal of reducing the death rate from cancer by at least 50% over the next 25 years and improving the experience of people and their families living with and surviving cancer.

» READ MORE: Jill Biden’s Philly ‘grit’

— Matt Breen

In 2015, then-Washington Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon got into a fight with then-Nationals slugger Bryce Harper in the dugout over not running out a fly ball.

Seven years later, Papelbon — the Phillies all-time saves leader — says he sees a “new-and-improved” Harper leading the Phillies on their World Series run.

“When I watch Bryce Harper right now I see a new-and-improved leader that I did not see when I played with him,” Papelbon said in an appearance on the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast.

“If I was to see him at a field today, I’d go up and say hey, chat with him, catch up with him, see how everything is, for sure,” Papelbon added. “I’m proud of his development. I’m proud to say I played with this guy. We had a run-in, big deal.”

— Rob Tornoe

How does Monday’s postponement affect our wagering approach for Game 3 — especially now that Philadelphia is switching starting pitchers?

The Phillies will hand the ball to lefty Ranger Suarez instead of planned Game 3 starter Noah Syndergaard.

Suarez has been money in four playoff appearances. In two starts against the Braves and Padres, the southpaw allowed three runs (two earned) and five hits in 8⅓ innings. He also closed out the National League Championship Series, getting two outs on two pitches, then worked two-thirds of an inning in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday, allowing one hit.

So why back the Astros in Game 3? Because the 11 pitches Suarez threw in Houston in Game 1 don’t erase the 67 he threw in Houston on Oct. 4. In that latter outing, the Astros blasted Suarez for six runs — including five in the first inning before making a single out.

You could argue that Suarez deserves a pass for that poor outing, what with the Phillies having clinched their first postseason berth in 11 years less than 24 hours before he took the mound. Maybe. But this you can’t argue: The Astros have been pummeling left-handed pitching lately.

» READ MORE: Astros vs. Phillies Game 3 odds, predictions: Fade Suarez, Philly in pivotal World Series contest

— Jeff Neiburg, The Action Network

Kyle Gibson was an All-Star and a trade-deadline darling for the Phillies in 2021. But so far in the 2022 playoffs he’s been a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency roster-filler who’s made one appearance.

Before Game 3 of the World Series, Gibson smiled at his circumstance.

“My job is just to be ready,” Gibson said before the rains came. “Maybe they’ll surprise me.”

Color him surprised.

Noah Syndergaard was slated to start Game 5 when it was scheduled for Wednesday, but if Syndergaard pitches out of the bullpen in Games 3 or 4, Gibson likely would be the starter in Game 5, which has been moved to Thursday.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said he would expect as many as 65 pitches from Gibson, which likely would mean at least four innings. His last start was Oct. 1. It would be his first playoff start.

» READ MORE: Kyle Gibson, forgotten man, now might start Game 5, a reward for patience and professionalism

— Marcus Hayes

It took 4,746 days for the World Series to return to Philadelphia.

What’s one more before an actual pitch is thrown?

With persistent heavy showers in the forecast, Major League Baseball postponed Game 3 until Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park while preserving a travel day later in the series. The scheduling changes would appear to aid the Phillies, whose pitching plans against the Houston Astros suddenly look less messy.

Rather than giving the ball to Noah Syndergaard in the pivotal Game 3, manager Rob Thomson will revert to the original plan of starting Ranger Suárez, who is also lined up now to start a potential Game 7.

Just as important, perhaps even more so, Zack Wheeler will get an additional day of rest before starting Game 6 on Saturday night in Houston, assuming the series goes that far after the teams split the first two games.

» READ MORE: World Series rainout in Game 3 could be a blessing for Phillies pitchers

— Scott Lauber

If you purchased tickets for Game 3 but can’t make it to Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, you’re out of luck.

No refunds will be issued for tickets purchased for Game 3, which was postponed due to rain in Philadelphia Monday night. Fans who purchased tickets for Game 3 can either use them Tuesday or sell them on their own. The good news is tickets on StubHub, Seat Geek, and Vivid Seats for Game 3 were selling for close to $1,000 a seat on Tuesday morning.

Tickets purchased for Game 4 will be honored on Wednesday, and Game 5 tickets will get you into Citizens Bank Park Thursday.

Fans who purchased parking for Monday can bring their parking receipt to the game with them Tuesday and will be admitted into the same lot, according to the Phillies.

— Alex Coffey and Rob Tornoe

Astros pitcher Justin Verlander took to Twitter Monday night to set the record straight involving a rumor on social media that a Phillies fan threw something at Houston’s bus, smashing a window. Even longtime New York Post baseball columnist Jon Heyman mentioned it on 94.1 WIP Tuesday morning.

“I don’t know what happened yesterday with the bus. I don’t know. I know there was broken glass,” Heyman said.

So did Phillies fans break the glass on the Astros’ bus? Not according to Verlander.

The veteran pitcher admitted showing his middle finger to heckling Phillies fans during some banter on Monday, but said it was “all in good fun.”

“Whole interaction was in jest as all the fans around you were just saying hello in their native tongue. So I responded in kind,” Verlander wrote. “I enjoyed the banter.”

“Also, nobody broke the window,” Verlander added. “Was just like that.”

Verlander started Game 1 for the Astros, where he gave up five runs after being given a five-run lead. Verlander will take the mound in Game 5 on Thursday on an extra day’s rest, Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters on Monday.

» READ MORE: Astros won’t move up Justin Verlander the way the Phillies did with Aaron Nola

— Rob Tornoe

What channel is Phillies-Astros on?

Game 3 of the World Series between the Phillies and Astros is scheduled to begin at 8:03 p.m. Eastern on Fox. The series is tied 1-1.

Calling the game is a crew that has become familiar to Phillies fans — Joe Davis and Hall of Famer John Smoltz. Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci will be reporting from the field at Citizens Bank Park.

On the radio, Scott Franzke and Larry Andersen will call Game 3 on 94.1 WIP. Tom McCarthy, the television voice for the Phillies on NBC Sports Philadelphia, will once again join the radio broadcast in the fifth and sixth innings.

Bill Kulik and Oscar Budejen will broadcast Phillies-Astros in Spanish on La Unika 1680 AM. Budejen is in his second year with the team, and he also works as the color analyst for the Eagles’ Spanish radio broadcasts.

The game will also air on TV in Spanish on Fox Deportes, with Adrian Garcia Marquez and Edgar Gonzalez on the call.

Where can I stream Phillies-Astros?

Phillies-Astros will stream on the Fox Sports app, though it will only be available to those with a cable subscription.

The game will also stream on any so-called skinny bundle that carries Fox, including fuboTV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and DirecTV Stream. Most offer a free trial.

If you’re looking to watch the game for free and you live in or around Philadelphia, your best option is using a digital antenna, since all the games will air on broadcast television.

» READ MORE: Phillies-Astros Game 3: Start time, channel, how to watch and stream the World Series

— Rob Tornoe

Because of Monday’s rain postponement, the World Series has shifted back a day.

As of Tuesday morning, it’s unclear whether Fox 29 in Philadelphia will air Game 5 of the World Series or a simulcast of Thursday Night Football, which will feature the Eagles taking on the Houston Texans. Nationally, the game will air on Fox.

Here’s the full 2022 World Series schedule:

* If necessary

— Rob Tornoe