NEW YORK (AP) — After fans waited 2 1/2 hours in the rain, Major League Baseball decided to postpone the decisive Game 5 of the American League Division Series between Cleveland and New York.
The Yankees took advantage of the circumstances to change their starter. The responsibility will fall to Néstor Cortés, who will pitch against the Guardians on shortened rest.
Cleveland is expected to keep Aaron Civale for the game, rescheduled for Tuesday at 4:02 pm ET.
None of the managers spoke to the press after the postponement. Yankees spokesman Jason Zillo confirmed that Aaron Boone informed him via text message that Cortes will pitch in place of Jameson Taillon.
The game was supposed to start at 7:07 p.m., and the postponement was confirmed at 9:38 p.m.
“When it became clear that it would be well after 10 p.m. when the game was going to start, I think a very easy decision was made,” said Chris Marinak, MLB’s chief operating officer and chief strategy officer.
The winner, if anything, will have respite, since he will have to travel to Houston to face the Astros in the American League championship series, which will begin on Wednesday at 6:37 p.m. (Central time).
Both teams had their batting practice on Monday.
“If the weather is an issue, I don’t necessarily want to go through that,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said around 4 p.m.
Cleveland outfielder Myles Straw, who was involved in a confrontation with Yankees fans in April, threw a few throws with a football ball to fans waiting in stadium seats during the delay, as did the backup outfielder Will Brennan.
The center field video board showed a split screen of New York City FC’s 3-0 victory over Inter Miami in the MLS playoffs, and the New York Rangers’ game against the Anaheim Ducks in the NHL , as well as the NFL game between the Denver Broncos and the San Diego Chargers.
It was the second postponement of the series after Game 2 at Yankee Stadium was pushed back a day to Friday.
After losing Game 1 of the series last week, Cleveland won Games 2 and 3, overcoming a two-run deficit in the ninth inning to win Game 3, 6-5. The Yankees won 4-2 Sunday night in Cleveland to force the series back to New York.
New York gets a day for its bullpen to rest.
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Game between Yankees and Guardians postponed due to rain