Rain washes out Red Sox-Yankees Saturday, sets Aug. 29 day-night doubleheader

The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees rivalry series took a scheduling hit on Saturday night at Yankee Stadium when the game was postponed due to a forecast of sustained rain. MLB confirmed the matchup would not be completed as planned, shortening the weekend set between the teams. The postponed contest has now been rescheduled for August, creating a rare day-night doubleheader on a single date in the Bronx.

According to MLB, the make-up will come on Aug. 29, starting with the opener at 1:05 p.m. ET, which will also serve as the first game of a day-night twin bill. FOX Sports later reported the nightcap of that same admission plan will start at 7:15 p.m. ET. The result is that the two teams will turn one Saturday game into two separate windows on Aug. 29, a change that can ripple through bullpen planning and pitching order.

There was also immediate fallout for how the teams’ rotation would line up for the remainder of the weekend. MLB reported that Ranger Suárez, who was scheduled to pitch for Boston on Saturday, would take the ball in Sunday’s 1:35 p.m. ET contest, while New York’s Cam Schlittler was set to start Sunday for the Yankees. MLB also noted that Will Warren, originally slated to start the Bronx contest on Saturday, would instead open a three-game series in Cleveland on Monday. In other words, Saturday’s rain delay forced more than just a calendar swap.

While the postponement itself was about weather, the timing of the make-up date gives the doubleheader added importance. MLB listed the Yankees at 37-26 and in second place in the American League East race, trailing the Tampa Bay Rays by one game, while the Red Sox were 27-35 and in last place, 10 1/2 games back. With summer standings tightening, losing (or gaining) one game during a head-to-head stretch can change how far teams feel they can drift before the playoff picture closes in.

The Yankees also faced a practical broadcast wrinkle. MLB reported that the delay made it less likely the game would start on time, and that the postponement meant the FOX studio setup featuring baseball icons would not happen for this particular night. Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicated the game might not have started until roughly 10:30 p.m. Saturday if the teams had tried to wait out the weather, a reminder that baseball can force late decisions when rain is steady and persistent.

For fans holding tickets, MLB and the Yankees’ rain check policy both emphasize that the postponed-game tickets become usable value rather than requiring a new purchase. MLB reported that ticket holders can use Saturday’s paid tickets for the Aug. 29 1:05 p.m. game or exchange them for a similar regular-season game, depending on availability and the team’s rain check rules. The Yankees’ policy also spells out that online ticket exchanges are handled through a ticket account process, and that exchanges cannot be completed in person at the stadium ticket office.