Rain out maybe?

Will Yankees-Indians ALDS Game 2 be rained out? Latest on weather, potential make-up day

By Joe Giglio jgiglio@njadvancemedia.com,
NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
In Game 1 of the American League Division Series, Trevor Bauer and the Mets stood in the way of the Yankees earning a victory.

In Game 2, expect Cleveland's ace, Corey Kluber, and weather to be the biggest deterrents to an all-important Yankees split.

Inclement weather is in the forecast for Friday evening in the Cleveland area--potentially impacting when or if the game is played.

Here's what the radar looks like for the area as Friday moves along. As you can see, rain is part of the equation.

Cleveland @Indians , New York @Yankees #ALDS Game 2 weather forecast: What you need to know about rain chances [t.co] pic.twitter.com/7CUFpUtIiU

-- Kelly Reardon (@KellyRWeather) October 5, 2017
According to Cleveland.com, rain will be in the area of Progressive Field throughout the day.

Throughout the day, rain chances hover around 40 percent, meaning scattered showers will be in the area. First pitch is at 5:08 p.m., when chances dip to 30 percent -- that still means stray showers cannot be ruled out, although they're not exactly likely. The good news? By 6 p.m. chances drop to 20 percent and stay there through midnight, also, if some manage to pop up they should be light and relatively short-lived, so a completely rained out game is very unlikely.

By 5:08 p.m. EST--the scheduled time for first pitch--chances are under 50 percent, but still present. That could mean a delay early on, either before first pitch or during the early innings.

A complete rainout would shift the series and cost both Cleveland and New York an off day on Saturday. If Major League Baseball cancels Game 2 on Friday night, it would be played on Saturday--wiping away the travel day between Game 2 and Game 3 on Sunday in New York.

Yanks vs. Kluber
Yanks vs. Kluber
Indians Game 2 starter Corey Kluber as dominated Yankees hitters in their respective careers.

That could hurt Cleveland in the long run (Kluber may not be able to come back for a potential Game 5 in relief) or New York in the short run (less off days means less rest time, ability for Yankees manager Joe Girardi to use his great bullpen).

Of course, an extended rain delay early in tonight's game could also get Kluber off the mound. If weather creates a long, extended "bullpen game" that would likely benefit the Yankees.