MLB Speedway Classic set to resume Sunday after Braves-Reds game suspended by rain
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MLB Speedway Classic set to resume Sunday after Braves-Reds game suspended by rain
Steve Gardner, USA TODAY August 3, 2025 at 10:30 PM
After the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves were unable to make it through the first inning on Saturday night, the two teams return to Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday, Aug. 3, to complete MLB's inaugural Speedway Classic.
The history-making clash is the first-ever major league game in the state of Tennessee and the first to be held at a NASCAR track. But the record 85,000-plus fans expected to be in attendance only got a small taste of the action as persistent rain delayed the start of the game for over two hours and forced MLB officials to suspend the contest with the Reds leading 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning.
How to watch the MLB Speedway Classic
The MLB Speedway Classic between the Reds and Braves will continue on Fox. Fans can stream it on Fubo.
Watch the MLB Speedway Classic with Fubo
What time does the MLB Speedway Classic restart?
The Reds and Braves will resume play at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee.
Date: Sunday, Aug. 3
Time: 1 p.m. ET
TV: Fox
Stream: Fubo
Location: Bristol Motor Speedway (Bristol, Tennessee)
Reds' Tyler Stephenson pays tribute to 'Talladega Nights'
Even though the two teams didn't even finish the first inning, there was one winner last night: Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson.
The inevitable comparisons between baseball and NASCAR throughout the broadcast couldn't compare to Stephenson's catching gear he had specifically created for this game.
Going full circle with Tyler Stephenson. Here he is in his Ricky Bobby gear about to catch in this iconic gear. And he got both Tim McGraw and Pitbull to sign his spikes to boot! Shake N Bake Tyler!#SPEEDWAYCLASSIC #MLB #REDS pic.twitter.com/f214e8KPxi
— Jim Day (@JimDayTV) August 2, 2025
Stephenson paid tribute to Will Farrell's firesuit from the movie "Talladega Nights" with his Wonder Bread-inspired chest protector. And he continued the theme with some colorful cleats.
“I was just thinking of stuff to do and reached out to the EvoShield people," Stephenson told MLB.com. "I was thinking of a NASCAR theme – and ‘Talladega Nights.’ It’s a classic movie. They did a great job and decided to wear it.”
Batting orders for Braves, Reds at Speedway Classic
Here are the lineups both teams will have when the game resumes:
Atlanta Braves
LF Jurickson Profar
1B Matt Olson
3B Austin Riley
*DH Drake Baldwin
C Sean Murphy
CF Michael Harris III
2B Ozzie Albies
RF Eli White
SS Nick Allen
RHP Hurston Waldrep
Cincinnati Reds
CF T.J. Friedl
2B Matt McLain
SS Elly De La Cruz
DH Austin Hays
*LF Miguel Andujar
RF Noelvi Marte
1B Spencer Steer
C Tyler Stephenson
3B Ke'Bryan Hayes
LHP Brent Suter
*-due up next when game resumes
Braves, Reds make lineup, roster changes
The suspension of the Speedway Classic on Saturday night has forced both teams to make some pitching changes before they return to the field.
The Braves have promoted right-hander Hurston Waldrep from the minors and will have him take over on the mound with one out in the bottom of the first inning. Waldrep had been scheduled to start on Sunday for Class AAA Gwinnett.
The Reds have promoted pitcher Lyon Richardson from Class AAA Louisville and optioned outfielder Will Benson to give them an additional arm for the game. Manager Terry Francona said veteran reliever Brent Suter will take over when the Reds take the field in the top of the second.
Speedway Classic weather issues
Reds second baseman Matt McLain rounds third base on his way to score the first run of the Aug. 2 Speedway Classic against the Braves at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The Speedway Classic was set to start at 7:15 p.m. ET on Saturday, but rain began falling during pregame activities and the tarp was unrolled at 7:19 p.m. It remained there until skies cleared around 8:50 p.m.
The game eventually started at 9:40 p.m. ET, but since Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider had already gone through his pregame warmup routine, the team decided to scratch him in favor of reliever Austin Cox.
The Reds stuck with their original starter, Tennessee native Chase Burns, who retired the Braves in order in the top of the first.
I wanna go fast!Chase Burns unleashes a 100-MPH heater to end the first 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/pX1BIxw377
— MLB (@MLB) August 3, 2025
But the skies began to open up once again – quickly turning the playing field into a quagmire as the Reds scored on Austin Hays' one-out RBI single. Play was halted immediately after that and ultimately suspended for the night.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Live updates: Braves, Reds set to resume MLB Speedway Classic
Source: “AOL AOL Sports”
