Rainout could cost Kazmir his start

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The rain has started to fall at Yankee Stadium, a light rain for now but forecast to intensify as the evening goes on.

If tonight’s game is rained out, Manager Mike Scioscia raised the possibility that the Angels could use John Lackey in Game 4, in place of scheduled starter Scott Kazmir. That would depend on whether a rainout tonight and makeup game tomorrow results in Monday becoming an off day. Game 3 is currently scheduled Monday and Game 4 Tuesday, but baseball officials could decide to push each game back one day.

Kazmir could be needed tonight or tomorrow, in the case of a rain delay. If tonight’s game is delayed, Scioscia said he would be cautious about bringing back starter Joe Saunders after a rain delay, since Saunders had a shoulder injury earlier this season. If tonight’s game is started tonight but finished tomorrow, Kazmir could pick up when the game is resumed.

Remember that all postseason games must be played to completion. If the Angels lead after six innings and the game is stopped, for instance, the Angels would not win in a rain-shortened game, as they would in the regular season. The deciding game of last year’s World Series was started one day and finished two days later.

-- Bill Shaikin