Fans use ponchos and umbrellas as they try to stay dry moments before a rain delay was announced at Fenway Park for a game between the Red Sox and the Yankees on Monday. The game was postponed and will be played Tuesday afternoon. Steven Senne/Associated Press
BOSTON — The first game of a four-game series between the Red Sox and New York Yankees was postponed because of heavy rain Monday night.
The call was made less than an hour after the scheduled start of the game. The teams are now set to play a split doubleheader Tuesday. Tickets for Monday’s game will be good for the afternoon game, set to begin at 1:35 p.m.
Tuesday’s regularly scheduled game will begin as scheduled at 7:10 p.m.
Nick Pivetta (9-8, 4.54) will start the afternoon game, having been given a regular spot in the starting rotation after the Red Sox announced that James Paxton will not pitch again this season due to a knee injury.
In the nightcap, the Red Sox will start Kutter Crawford (6-7, 4.36), who had originally been tabbed to start Monday’s game.
The Yankees will pitch right-hander Randy Vazquez (2-2, 2.36) in the afternoon game with lefty Carlos Rodon (2-5, 6.60) set to pitch the nightcap.
The Red Sox have yet to announce a starter for Thursday night, the final game of the four-game set. In addition, the Sox have pushed Chris Sale’s next start back a bit. The veteran lefty, who was shelled for six earned runs in just four innings on Saturday, will be given some extra rest. He’ll pitch Saturday in Toronto, the second game of a three-game series with the Blue Jays.
BREWERS: Former AL MVP Josh Donaldson is back in the big leagues attempting to help the Milwaukee Brewers in their push toward an NL Central title.
The Brewers announced Monday they had recalled the veteran third baseman from Triple-A Nashville while optioning infielder Owen Miller. The NL Central leaders had signed Donaldson to a minor league contract on Aug. 31, two days after the New York Yankees released him.
Donaldson won the MVP with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2015 and is a three-time All-Star, but his play has tailed off dramatically. He has hit .207 with 25 homers and 77 RBI over 165 games in two seasons since the Yankees acquired him in March 2022 deal. Donaldson is hitting .142 with a .225 on-base percentage and .434 slugging percentage in 33 games this season, though his .076 batting average on balls in play suggests bad luck has played a role in his struggles. Ten of Donaldson’s 15 hits are homers.
MARINERS: Seattle reinstated outfielder Jarred Kelenic off the injured list on Monday less than two months after he broke a bone in his left foot by kicking a cooler out of frustration.
Kelenic’s return is a needed boost for Seattle following a disappointing 3-7 road trip that has left the Mariners 2½ games behind in the AL West race and holding a slim lead for the final wild-card spot in the American League. Seattle opens a six-game homestand on Monday night against the Los Angeles Angels.
Kelenic was hitting .252 with 11 homers and 45 RBI in 90 games prior to getting hurt on July 19 when he kicked a water cooler following a ninth-inning strikeout during a loss to Minnesota.
ANGELS: Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani was scratched Monday night as he continues to deal with a strained right oblique.
Ohtani got hurt during batting practice before the Angels’ 6-3 loss to Baltimore a week go. The slugger has missed his team’s last eight games. He was slated to play Monday in Seattle, but he was replaced at designated hitter by Mike Moustakas.
DODGERS: Julio Urías’ locker has been removed from the Los Angeles Dodgers’ clubhouse, and two murals featuring the World Series-winning pitcher have been covered up at Dodger Stadium ahead of the team’s homestand this week.
Urías is on indefinite administrative leave after he was arrested Sept. 3 on suspicion of corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant. The left-hander has been on the Dodgers’ pitching staff since 2016.
ROCKIES: Colorado activated outfielder Kris Bryant from the injured list on Monday and designated Cole Tucker for assignment.
CUBS: Chicago placed closer Adbert Alzolay on the 15-day injured list Monday and promoted top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong from Triple-A Iowa.
The Cubs also activated reliever Michael Fulmer from the IL before the opener of a three-game series at Colorado.
Atlanta’s Austin Riley, right, scores on a fielding error after hitting a triple against Philadelphia pitcher Taijuan Walker, left, in the first inning of the first game of a doubleheader on Monday in Philadelphia. Matt Slocum/Associated Press
MONDAY GAMES
BRAVES-PHILLIES SPLIT: Brandon Marsh homered, Jake Cave hit a two-run triple and Philadelphia spoiled Matt Olson’s 50th homer and salvaged a doubleheader split with a 7-5 win over Atlanta.
Michael Harris II and Ronald Acuña Jr. went deep for the Braves in a 10-8, 10-inning win in the opener. Harris also homered in the nightcap.
The Braves, who have secured at least a wild card and reached the postseason for the sixth straight year, need to win the final two games of the series to clinch the NL East in Philadelphia.
Olson hit a three-run homer off the second deck in the third and added a solo shot for his MLB-best 50th in the sixth, both off Phillies starter Michael Lorenzen (9-9).
Olson had already set career-highs in homers and RBI with 127, a key reason why a sixth straight division title will soon belong to the Braves.
Andruw Jones holds Atlanta’s single-season record with 51 in 2005.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
