NEW YORK – Game 4 of the American League Championship Series between the Astros and Yankees has been postponed due to continued projections of inclement weather in the New York City area, Major League Baseball announced on Wednesday.

ALCS Game 4, originally scheduled to be played at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday at 8:08 p.m. ET, will be played instead on Thursday at 8:08 p.m. ET. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. ET.

The postponement moves Game 5 to 7:08 p.m. ET on Friday, with the clubs losing a potential travel day between New York and Houston. The Astros lead the ALCS, two games to one.

“We are mindful of two things: We don’t want to affect the competitive complexion of the series, and we want to be mindful of our fans who have to get out,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said prior to ALCS Game 3. “We don’t want to bring them here if we know we are not going to be able to play.”

• ALCS Games 4 and 5 ticket information

Fans holding tickets for Wednesday’s postponed game (marked “ALCS Home Game 2” at Yankee Stadium) must use them for Thursday’s rescheduled game. The only valid tickets for Thursday’s rescheduled game are those marked with “ALCS Home Game 2,” and there are no refunds or exchanges for tickets to the postponed game.

Tickets marked “ALCS Home Game 3” at Yankee Stadium will be valid for the game to be played on Friday. There are no refunds or exchanges for tickets. Gates will open to fans at 4:30 p.m. ET on Friday.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Wednesday that right-hander Masahiro Tanaka will start Game 4 and James Paxton will go in Game 5.

“Good chance of that,” Boone said. “That's something we'll talk through, also. But a good chance of that, yes.”

The Astros are bringing back right-hander Zack Greinke in Game 4 and will start right-hander Justin Verlander in Game 5, Houston announced after Wednesday's postponement. That will allow right-hander Gerrit Cole to start Game 6, if necessary, on short rest.

Houston could go with Jose Urquidy or a bullpen game in Game 6 and save a fully rested Cole for Game 7, with Verlander potentially available out of the bullpen.

"Whatever happens, happens, and we've just got to roll with the punches and keep battling," Houston third baseman Alex Bregman said. "Keep fighting and keep playing our brand of baseball."

For a potential Game 6, one possibility for the Yanks would be to use J.A. Happ or a bullpen game, then go with Luis Severino for Game 7 (if necessary).

"It doesn't matter if [it’s Wednesday] or if it’s Thursday," Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge said. "We're going to be ready. Rain isn't going to stop us."

Should the ALCS return to Houston, Game 6 would be played on Saturday at 8:08 p.m. ET. Game 7 would be played on Sunday at 7:38 p.m. ET. All remaining ALCS games will be televised on FS1.