Yanks-Rays series may be moved

BALTIMORE — Although the Yankees know Wednesday night’s washout with the Orioles has been rescheduled for Thursday at 1:35 p.m. and not anticipating weather problems for three weekend games in Arlington, Texas, the Yankees don’t have a definitive plan for a three-game series against the Rays scheduled to begin Monday in St. Petersburg, Fla. with Hurricane Irma possibly bearing down.

However it shakes out, it’s not likely the Yankees and Rays will play at Tropicana Field on Monday.

“The little that I have heard is that we could possibly fly in Monday, play a game on Tuesday and a doubleheader maybe on Wednesday. Possibly fly in on Tuesday and play a doubleheader on Wednesday and figure out how to make up the other game,’’ Joe Girardi said after Wednesday night’s game with the O’s was rained out. “Talked about moving it so it’s nothing really clear. I think it’s about as uncertain as the exact track of the storm so I think that has a lot to do with it.’’

Doubleheaders aren’t popular at any time of year but they are loathed with postseason spots on the line in the season’s final month.

“You would prefer not to play a doubleheader, especially at this time of year, but Mother Nature has been something we have never really been able to outwit,’’ said Girardi, whose club was 3 ½ games behind the Red Sox in the AL East going into the Red Sox-Blue Jays game Wednesday evening. The Yankees hold a 2 ½-game lead over the Twins in the chase for the first of two AL wild-card spots.

Moving the three games to Yankee Stadium or another venue — Camden Yards is in the mix — is an option that doesn’t appeal to the Rays, who are three games behind the Twins.

“I think that would be better, but I understand their point of view, too,’’ Girardi said of the Rays. “I understand they don’t want to give up their home games and their homefield advantage so you just got to deal with it.’’

Girardi said Sonny Gray remains the Yankees’ starter Thursday and the same lineup that had Chase Headley in the DH spot will be used when the Yankees try to take two of three from the O’s after losing, 7-6, Tuesday night when Dellin Betances gave up a two-run, two-out homer to Manny Machado in the ninth inning.

The Yankees will be looking to win a series in Camden Yards for the first time in 12 tries.