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Major League Baseball has postponed Game 4 of the American League Championship Series due to rain, and that shakes things up for the New York Yankees and Houston Astros. Game 4 has been moved to Thursday and Game 5 has been moved to Friday. There had previously been a travel day on Friday, but that will no longer happen and if necessary, Games 6 and 7 would happen Saturday and Sunday.
The Astros are arguably the bigger beneficiary of the weather postponement. The team announced that Zack Greinke and Justin Verlander will start Games 4 and 5. Previously, they had been scheduled to pitch Games 5 and 6. The rain delay means the two studs can go earlier on normal rest. Considering the Astros lead the series 2-1, this puts them in a strong position to finish this series in five, rather than worry about going back to Houston.
The Yankees have not announced their pitching changes, but Aaron Boone said on Tuesday this would likely mean Masahiro Tanaka would pitch Game 4. The Game 1 starter had been scheduled for Game 5, but like Greinke, this allows him to start Game 4 on normal rest. UPDATE: Boone announced Wednesday afternoon that Tanaka will start Game 4 and James Paxton is likely to start Game 5, according to New York Post reporter Joel Sherman. Boone said “then go from there” for potentially Games 6 and 7.