While the Yankees had a reason to avoid playing two games Thursday after Wednesday night’s tilt against the Mariners at Yankee Stadium was rained out, the Mariners weren’t wild about playing a doubleheader since they are scheduled for a twinbill in Oakland next week.
Two doubleheaders inside a week is death to a pitching staff.
So, instead of playing two games Thursday, the Yankees and Mariners will play the regularly scheduled 7:05 p.m. game and one game at Yankee Stadium on June 2 at 7:05 p.m. The Mariners are home June 1 and in Atlanta on June 3.
Tickets for Wednesday night’s game can be used for the rescheduled game or exchanged for any regular-season home game within a year if available.
Hiroki Kuroda will start for the Yankees on Thursday night and lefty Roenis Elias will go for the Mariners instead of Felix Hernandez, who originally was scheduled to start. Elias was slated to start Wednesday, opposite David Phelps, who could pitch Saturday to give Masahiro Tanaka an extra day, or Monday in Anaheim.
Had the Yankees played two games Thursday, their rotation — already without Ivan Nova and Michael Pineda, who have been replaced by Vidal Nuno and Phelps — would have required a fifth starter Monday.
Pineda’s suspension for applying pine tar to his neck ends Sunday. The next day the Yankees can play with a full 25 players. The Yankees have been limited to 24 players since Pineda was suspended April 24.
The Yankees have to wait until the suspension expires Monday to put Pineda on the disabled list. He strained a teres major muscle Tuesday in the first inning of a simulated game in Tampa, Fla., and is expected to be out 3-4 weeks.
Since coming off the DL on April 20, Mark Teixeira has started eight games and hasn’t hit higher in the order than fifth, something the switch-hitting first baseman has done five times.
With Teixeira displaying home run power in back-to-back games and three times in his last five outings, it could be time to elevate Teixeira in the order.
Teixeira’s home runs Sunday and Tuesday night were blasts to right field, which showed the surgically repaired right wrist is capable of driving the ball. That was something Teixeira didn’t do much of in spring training or in the first four games of the season before going on the shelf with a strained right adductor muscle.
“The home runs tell me I am getting better, driving the ball is a good sign,’’ said Teixeira, who has six hits (three homers) since coming off the DL.
Teixeira spent the offseason, spring training and the time on the DL strengthening the wrist, a process that is still in play.
“It’s better, still a long way to go,’’ Teixeira said. “I haven’t played that many games [12]. The last few days I have been getting good swings and it’s nice to see the ball going out of the park.’’
Manager Joe Girardi said he believes Teixeira’s recent power surge is the hitter finding a comfort level in the box after playing in just 15 games a year ago.
“I think he is feeling more comfortable,’’ Girardi said. “He is swinging the bat well and doing the things he needs to do. He probably feels more comfortable up there.’’
Not only was Jacoby Ellsbury’s left hand too sore to play Tuesday night, he watched a Yankee Stadium security barrier malfunction and damage his car upon arriving at the ballpark.
Girardi said Ellsbury likely wouldn’t have played Wednesday night because of the foul weather. Ellsbury has one hit in his last 10 at-bats.