GDT: 5/11/10 - DET (18-14) vs NYY (21-10) - Postponed Rain

Rain postpones Yanks-Tigers tilt
Day-night doubleheader set for Wednesday in Detroit

By Alex DiFilippo / MLB.com

05/11/10 8:00 PM ET

DETROIT -- Tuesday's game between the Tigers and Yankees at Comerica Park was postponed because of rain.

The game was rescheduled for Wednesday at 1:05 p.m. ET as part of a day-night doubleheader, with Wednesday's nightcap starting at 7:05 p.m.

The pitching matchups will remain as expected for the second and third games of the series. Tigers right-hander Rick Porcello (2-3) will oppose Javier Vazquez (1-3) in the opener, and in Game 2, Tigers righty Jeremy Bonderman (1-1) will face Phil Hughes (4-0).

This four-game series, which kicked off Monday with a 5-4 Tigers win, is the only trip the Yankees will make to Detroit.

Tuesday's original forecast called for the weather to improve, but rain lingered all day and continued into the evening, with temperatures in the mid-40s and blistery winds.

The rainout gives Tigers manager Jim Leyland an opportunity to rest his overworked pitching staff, after Detroit's bullpen tossed nine innings on Monday in place of a sick Dontrelle Willis.

Tigers lefty Brad Thomas, usually a middle reliever, started on Monday and threw 68 pitches in place of Willis. Eddie Bonine entered the game in relief of Thomas and threw 34 pitches, so he likely would not have been available on Tuesday night. The same could be said about Joel Zumaya, who threw 33 pitches -- two short of his season high -- and hasn't appeared in back-to-back games all season.

With Willis still battling flu-like symptoms, the Tigers would have had a four-man bullpen consisting of Phil Coke, Ryan Perry, Fu-Te Ni and Jose Valverde if Tuesday's game had been played as scheduled.

When asked what his pitching situation would be like if the game started and then a long rain delay ensued, Leyland said "that would be absolutely disastrous."

"We're strapped," Leyland said of his bullpen.

Tickets from Tuesday's postponed game will be valid for Wednesday's 1:05 p.m. game. Unused tickets may be exchanged for any game within 12 months, not including Opening Day.

Alex DiFilippo is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.