MLB

Full-steam ahead for Yankees, unless …

It’s hope for the best and expect the worst.

With rain in the forecast for the entire weekend, officials from the Yankees, Angels and Major League Baseball are keeping their fingers crossed that the opening games of the ALCS at Yankee Stadium will not be disrupted.

Since Monday there is an extra day off between Games 4 and 5 — in addition to travel days between Games 2 and 3, and 5 and 6 — there is some wiggle room.

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If tonight’s game is postponed, fans holding tickets for Game 1 would be admitted tomorrow (weather permitting). Fans holding tickets for Game 2 would be admitted on Sunday, though no time for a Sunday game has been announced.

“Whenever the first game is at Yankee Stadium is when Game 1 tickets will be valid,” said Jason Zillo, a Yankees spokesman.

On the field, the Yankees are concerned about how a postponement might affect their pitching rotation. As it stands, manager Joe Girardi hopes to use a three-man rotation, with ace CC Sabathia available for three starts in the series. But a postponement would mean the elimination of an off day and potentially force the Yankees to use a fourth starter.

Girardi said he’s not looking that far ahead.

“We feel we’re prepared to play [tonight] and I think we’re going to play,” Girardi said. “I don’t think the rain is going to be a huge issue. It could change. You get different forecasts all the time.”

MLB will have the final call on postponements. Patrick Courtney, a spokesman for MLB, said it’s possible a forecast of bad weather could postpone a game before the gates are even opened at Yankee Stadium. Jimmie Lee Solomon, an MLB official, will be on site to keep communications open between the teams and commissioner Bud Selig’s office. Selig will make the final call on starting and postponing games.