Rainout proves timely for rotation

DETROIT — Friday night’s game between the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers was postponed because of rain and will be made up as part of a splitdoubleheader on Sept. 1 in Detroit.

The postponement might help the Indians with their pitching situation this weekend. The Indians and Tigers will play two games on Saturday as part of a day-night doubleheader.

Had they played Friday night, the plan for the second game on Saturday was to start reliever Dan Otero — assuming he wasn’t needed on Friday — and essentially attempt another “bullpen game,” as they did last September after injuries to the starting rotation wreaked havoc on the pitching staff.

Now, though, the Indians will start Josh Tomlin in the first game on Saturday and Carlos Carrasco in the second game. Cleveland also has Monday off, which will allow the rotation to reset and again be on a normal schedule.

“I think that the usage of our bullpen the last few days was — we had a lot of decisions to make about who was going to be available (Friday) from a protection standpoint, and how we wanted to use guys,” pitching coach Mickey Callaway said. “So, this is going to help us out a little bit, give everybody an extra day. And it helps our starters. We don’t have to start Otero … so it’s really going to help him a lot.”

Ryan Merritt, as was planned before the rainout, will still be activated for the doubleheader. Teams are allowed to carry a 26th man for doubleheaders, so Merritt gives the pitching staff some additional insurance.

Merritt has made one start with the Indians, allowing two earned runs in four innings in a 9-3 win over the Minnesota Twins on June 17.

“I saw some good things, saw some things I need to be better at,” Merritt said. “Location could have been better. Then again, I got some good outs. Every time I go out there, I just get a little bit more comfortable, a little more confidence.”