Wednesday’s rainout has implications for both Yankees, Astros

NEW YORK — The postponement of Wednesday night’s scheduled Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on account of rain is no big deal on a surface-level — a delay of 24 hours, with the game now scheduled for Thursday at Yankee Stadium. An inconvenience for fans. A break for weary arms and legs. A condensed schedule for the rest of the series, which could still go seven games. No biggie — baseball is designed to be a daily game.

But on a deeper level, one simple rainout changes almost everything about the ALCS, which the Houston Astros lead, 2-1, over the New York Yankees — all because of one factor: the ample rest required of elbows and shoulders for pitchers.

This is the new schedule: Game 4 Thursday, then Game 5 on Friday night (previously a scheduled travel day). Then, Games 6 and 7, if necessary, at Houston’s Minute Maid Park on Saturday and Sunday. The winner of the series will host the Washington Nationals in Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday night.

In the short term, the rainout appears to benefit the Yankees, who were prepared to attack Game 4 as a “bullpen” game, with a relay of pitchers going one to three innings each then handing the baton off to the next guy. Instead, they will be able to use right-handed starter Masahiro Tanaka, their October ace, on his regular four days’ rest. In Game 1, Tanaka needed just 68 pitches to shut out the Astros for six innings.

In most other ways, the rainout appears to benefit the Astros. They will now start veteran ace Justin Verlander on regular rest in Game 5 on Friday, manager A.J. Hinch announced Wednesday afternoon. That gives them the further flexibility to start rookie Jose Urquidy in Game 6 in Houston, or, if they lose both Games 4 and 5, bring back coace Gerrit Cole on short rest — something Cole has never done in his career. If the Astros are leading the series heading into Game 6, they would almost certainly hold back Cole as their firewall in Game 7, on full rest.

But the essential math for the Yankees remains: To win the series, they will have to win at least one game started by either Verlander or Cole, the co-favorites for the AL Cy Young Award.

STANTON’S STATUS: Boone remained uncertain Wednesday if slugger Giancarlo Stanton would return to the lineup in Game 4. Stanton was held out of Games 2 and 3 after straining his right quad in the opener.

NEW CREW: Aztec High alumnus Mike Everitt will replace Jeff Nelson as umpire crew chief for the remainder of the ALCS after Nelson was removed from Game 3 with a concussion. Nelson took two foul balls off his mask before Kerwin Danley swapped in behind home plate. Everitt was the plate umpire for the NL wild-card game this season.