The Arizona Diamondbacks are scheduled to resume their rain-interrupted series at Yankee Stadium on Sunday. Game time is set for 10:35 a.m., and the matchup can be seen on YurView AZ.
Diamondbacks-Yankees game in a rain delay
NEW YORK — With a light rain falling here early Sunday afternoon, the start of the Diamondbacks-Yankees game will be delayed, the Yankees announced.
“Please be advised,” the Yankees posted to social media, “we do not intend to start today’s game on time.”
Based on the forecasts, there does appear to be a small window, perhaps up to two hours, in which the rain could relent.
Diamondbacks hoping rain holds off at Yankee Stadium
NEW YORK — Though a light drizzle was falling at Yankee Stadium about an hour before game time, the Diamondbacks were hopeful they would get in a game on Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.
“Playing today is a super important for us,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “It’s Zac’s day today. He’s on normal rest. We’re fortunate we’re going to play this baseball game.”
Lovullo was referring to right-hander Zac Gallen, the team’s ace. If Gallen weren’t to pitch on Monday, it would complicate the club’s pitching plans heading into not just the final days of the regular season but also a potential wild-card round.
After Saturday’s game was rained out, Lovullo said his staff met and talked about scenarios before ultimately deciding to stick with Gallen on Sunday, as originally planned, and to push back Saturday’s scheduled starter, Zach Davies, to the upcoming White Sox series in Chicago.
“We wanted to maximize Zac’s ability to pitch here and one more time before a hopeful postseason appearance, and we wanted the same for (number two starter) Merrill (Kelly),” Lovullo said. “It lines up really well if we play this game today. That’s what we all decided.”
And if Sunday’s game isn’t played? Well, Lovullo didn’t want to talk about that possibility.
“It gets a little tricky if we don’t play today,” he said, “but I’m not going to worry about that.”
Lovullo said his understanding is that Sunday’s game should be able to be played.
“Very soggy,” he said, when asked what he was being told about the weather. “Be patient. And there’s going to be times of little showers and drizzles but nothing that will officially knock us out. I’ll pass that along to the guys and make sure they’re ready. As long as they know the landscape I think this team will be ready to play.”
He said he does not plan to manage the game any differently because of rain, a lesson he learned earlier in his managerial career.
“I’ve managed a lot of baseball games for the past 22 or 23 years, and I’ve tried to manipulate it in the minor leagues, tried to do the best I can, tried to be ahead in the fifth inning, wait for the rain that never comes,” he said. “But I’ve learned over the years just manage it the right way, which is the only way I know how.”
Sunday’s Diamondbacks-Yankees pitching matchup
Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (16-8, 3.60) vs. Yankees LHP Carlos Rodon (3-6, 5.90).
Gallen had a rough go against the Giants in his most recent start, giving up four runs in five innings. It was the fourth shaky start in his past five outings. … The Diamondbacks had been planning to start Zach Davies in the second game of this series with Gallen going in the finale on Sunday, but with rain washing out Saturday’s game they opted to instead skip Davies. They figure to need Davies in the coming days, likely against the White Sox in Chicago. … Gallen has never faced the Yankees. … Rodon has made just 12 starts after missing the first three months of the year with elbow and back problems. … He struck out 10 in 6 2/3 innings against the Pirates his last time out, giving up three runs on six hits and no walks. … He is holding lefties to just a .194 average, but they have logged a .472 slugging off him. … Rodon has a 5.91 ERA in four career starts against the Diamondbacks, all of them coming last season.
Coming up
Monday: At New York, 10:05 a.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (12-7, 3.37) vs. Yankees RHP Clarke Schmidt (9-9, 4.65).
Tuesday: At Chicago, 4:40 p.m., Diamondbacks TBA vs. White Sox TBA.
Wednesday: At Chicago, 11:10 a.m., Diamondbacks TBA vs. White Sox TBA
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks hoping rain holds off at Yankee Stadium
Source: Yahoo Sports