Rainout may mean double trouble for Yankees

DETROIT - For the banged-up Yankees this, to say the least, was not ideal.

The day Yankees manager Joe Girardi announced reliever Alfredo Aceves' creaky back was likely to result in a trip to the disabled list, last night's game against the Tigers was rained out, to be made up Wednesday as part of a day-night doubleheader.

"It's just hard on your guys physically, it's hard on your pitching staff," Girardi said after the game had been postponed. "It's hard to throw a guy in consecutive games . It's just difficult."

Javier Vazquez (1-3, 9.78), who was warming up when told the game had been postponed, will start the first game against Rick Porcello (2-3, 7.50), which had been last night's scheduled pitching matchup.

In what was the original Wednesday night matchup, Phil Hughes (4-0, 1.69) goes against Jeremy Bonderman (1-1, 5.74) in the nightcap.

With Aceves apparently headed to the DL, the Yankees, already carrying 13 pitchers, are likely to call up Juan Miranda from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to give them an extra lefthanded bat.

Girardi hinted that the Yankees are also likely to bring up a pitcher to be on "standby," in other words a pitcher they could activate between games if necessary.

If, for instance, the Yankees needed seven pitchers to get through today's first game, the extra pitcher, probably Jonathan Albaladejo or Mark Melancon, could be activated before the second game.

"That could possibly happen, yes," Girardi said of the "standby" option.

Ivan Nova, called up Monday from Scranton in place of Romulo Sanchez, will stay available as the long man.

As for the lineups, Girardi will have different ones for each game.

"You might find a guy that plays in one game and DH's in the second," Girardi said. "So now they're playing one game basically and they would have had [yesterday] off."

Girardi had Alex Rodriguez at designated hitter last night but said that didn't necessarily mean A-Rod would play both games Wednesday. Jorge Posada, in the lineup Tuesday at catcher, will not catch two games Wednesday, obviously.

Girardi said he was unlikely to use any reliever in both games, although if lefty Damaso Marte came in to get one batter, he could be available the second game. Mariano Rivera, who hasn't pitched since April 30, could close out both games if the first appearance wasn't overly taxing.

"I'd have to talk to them to see how they felt and see how hard they actually worked," he said. "But it's not something you'd really want to do."

Sort of like playing a doubleheader.

Yesterday's postponement also impacts Sunday's game against the Twins. Had Vazquez took his turn last night, he would be in line to pitch Sunday, his fifth day. Now, Sergio Mitre, Monday's emergency starter in place of Andy Pettitte, would seem to be the most likely to make that start. But Girardi's not making any plans, not with the very real possibility of rain Thursdayas well.

"Just when you think you get a handle on it . . . " Girardi said.

He trailed off, not needing to complete the thought.