It was bad news if you were a fan looking forward to Game 6 tonight. But when the official announcement of a rainout was made in New York, it was good news for the Angels.
Now Mike Scioscia will have all sorts of options with his starting rotation, including the strong possibility that he could come back with John Lackey, on three days' rest, in a potential Game 7 on Monday.
It also means he not only will have Joe Saunders starting Game 6, but he could have Jered Weaver, who had been scheduled to start Game 7, available in relief, as well.
For the Yankees, it means winning Game 6 becomes much more important for their World Series hopes. If they don't, they'll have to use their ace, CC Sabathia,in Game 7 of the ALCS, negating the possibility that Sabathia would start Game 1 of the World Series and perhaps start two more times after that.
Now, if the ALCS goes to seven games and the Yankees win, Sabathia probably wouldn't be able to start until Game 3 of the World Series. Manager Joe Girardi also would likely have to use four starting pitchers, instead of three, against the Phillies. And Sabathia could start only twice at the most.
-- Steve Bisheff