ALDS Game 5 between Yanks, Guardians won’t start on time

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NEW YORK (AP) — The decisive fifth game of the AL Division Series between the Cleveland Guardians and the New York Yankees will not start on time due to the threat of rain.

The game was scheduled to begin at 7:07 p.m. Monday night, and Major League Baseball announced around 6:20 p.m. that kickoff would be delayed. MLB planned to reevaluate the weather forecast around 7 p.m

An announcement over the public address system notified fans of the impending delay, and Yankee Stadium staff covered the concourse with a tarp shortly before 6:40 p.m.

“If time is an issue, I don’t necessarily want to go through it,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said around 4 p.m.

Aaron Civale was supposed to play for the Guardians against Jameson Taillon.

Either Cleveland or New York will open the AL Championship Series in Houston on Wednesday night.

Game 2 of the series fell last Thursday at Yankee Stadium, pushing it to Friday afternoon.

After losing the opener last week, Cleveland won Games 2 and 3, overcoming a two-run deficit in the ninth inning to win Game 3 6-5. The Yankees won 4-2 on Sunday night in Cleveland to send the series back to New York.

The Yankees are tax-destroyed, while Cleveland’s best players are fresh.

New York used Clay Holmes for 17 and Wandy Peralta for seven on Sunday, a night after Peralta threw for 27, Clarke Schmidt 12, Jonathan Loáisiga 15 and Lou Trivino seven. Peralta played three days in a row.

The Yankees are without Chad Green, Scott Effres, Zack Britton, Michael King and Ron Marinaccio due to injuries, and Aroldis Chapman was fired after not showing up for mandatory practice on Oct. 7.

Cleveland hasn’t used its top players since Friday, when All-Star closer Emmanuel Classe threw 33 pitches after Trevor Stephan threw 21 and James Karinchak 29.

The Guardians used Sam Hentges (31), Enyel De Los Santos (19) and Eli Morgan (12) on Saturday, and Morgan (23), Cody Morris (22) and Zak Plesak (11) on Sunday.

GAME ON THE FIELD

New York shortstop Giancarlo Stanton could see time in left field in Houston if the Yankees advance. He was limited to DH and pinch-hitting, and last played in the outfield on July 21, before spending a month on the injured list with left Achilles tendonitis.

ROOM for trainers

Yankees: Marinaccio (right calf) and fellow RHP Frankie Montas (right shoulder inflammation) could be available if the Yankees face Houston. Marinaccio last played on October 2, and Montas on September 16. … OF Andrew Benintendi, who hasn’t played since Sept. 2, received an injection in his right wrist and likely won’t be available against the Astros.

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