Blue Jays' rematch with Pirates rained out

By Tom Singer

March 6, 2014

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Rain isn't rare in damp Florida. Rainouts of Grapefruit League games, however, are relatively uncommon.

Those two trends meshed on Thursday, when the Pirates' game against Toronto in McKechnie Field was one of numerous washed out by strong and enduring downpours.

Hence, Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle had to shuffle his pitching plans for the two games already scheduled for Friday. The Bucs' manager may also have to alter the all-right-handed hitting lineup he was going to send out against the Blue Jays' Mark Buehrle, because right-hander Vance Worley is scheduled to start for the Twins.

Lefty Wandy Rodriguez will take his regularly scheduled turn and start against Minnesota at McKechnie Field. Gerrit Cole, Thursday's starter, will instead go in a 10 a.m. ET "B" game between Pirates and Twins squad at Pirate City.

Toronto manager John Gibbons had to do considerably less juggling: Buehrle will start against Tampa Bay on Friday, with Drew Hutchison being pushed back to a Saturday start against the Twins and R.A. Dickey remaining on schedule for a Sunday start against the Astros in Kissimmee, Fla. J.A. Happ, Saturday's scheduled pitcher, thus gets bumped from his start.

Jason Grilli, due for his first outing of the spring, and Jameson Taillon -- both down for turns on Thursday -- will pitch behind Rodriguez, as will Jeanmar Gomez and Jared Hughes.

Cole's relief in the "B" game will consist of Justin Wilson, Bryan Morris, Andy Oliver, Casey Sadler and Stolmy Pimentel -- who had originally been scheduled to start in the "B" game.

Blue Jays Up Next: Buehrle will get the start when the Blue Jays host Tampa Bay in a 1:05 p.m. ET start on Friday afternoon at the Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Buehrle was originally scheduled to start on Thursday vs the Pirates but the game was canceled because of severe rain and thunderstorms. Right-hander Marcus Stroman and left-hander Ricky Romero also had their outings pushed back one day and will pitch against the Rays in a matinee affair.

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer.