Eyewitness News Meteorologist Jeff Smith says it was a smart move as steadier rain is expected to return midday Thursday. He called it a "washout."
First pitch is now set for just after 1 p.m. Friday with pre-game ceremonies scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m.
Gerrit Cole of the Yankees and Nathan Eovaldi of the Red Sox had been the scheduled starting pitchers.
Fans who have tickets for Thursday can use them for Friday or exchange them to another regular season game at Yankee Stadium.
Meeting in an opener for the first time since 2005, the Yankees and Red Sox had been scheduled as the first game of a major league season pushed back from March 31 because of a 99-day lockout.
With the rainout, the first game becomes the Chicago Cubs hosting the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field, a 2:20 p.m. EDT start.
ALSO READ | Yankees fans struck by lightning at game in Florida
Yankees fans struck by lightning at game in Florida
Seattle's game at Minnesota on Thursday also was postponed because of weather, with a mixture of rain and snow forecast.
Seven games remained on Thursday's schedule, with Brewers-Cubs joined by the New York Mets at Washington, Cleveland at Kansas City, Pittsburgh at St. Louis, Cincinnati at World Series champion Atlanta, Houston at the Los Angeles Angels and San Diego at Arizona.
----------
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* More New York City news
* Send us a news tip
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
* Follow us on YouTube
Submit a News Tip