Tribe, A's to play doubleheader after Tuesday's rainout
OAKLAND -- It was like a cruel April Fool's joke. While the weather was sunny and warm back in Cleveland on Tuesday, a steady rain pounded the tarp that covered the infield at a chilly Coliseum in Oakland.
Without a clear window to play, Tuesday's tilt between the A's and Indians was postponed due to inclement weather, delaying Cleveland's reunion with Oakland lefty Scott Kazmir by one day. The clubs are now scheduled to play a day-night doubleheader on Wednesday at 3:35 p.m. and 9 p.m. ET.
"I think Kaz had all the rainouts last year," Indians starter Corey Kluber quipped about his former teammate. "So, you can blame it on him."
Tuesday's postponement marked only the 19th rainout (regular season and postseason) in the history of the Coliseum. It also represented the earliest in a season that a game in Oakland had ever been called because of rain. Prior to Tuesday, the last rainout in Oakland was on May 5, 1998, against the Tigers.
As was the plan for Tuesday night, Kluber is scheduled to square off against Kazmir -- a key part of Cleveland's rotation last year -- in the first game of Wednesday's split doubleheader. Right-hander Zach McAllister is slated to take the ball in the nightcap, though Oakland has yet to announce who will oppose him on the mound.
Cleveland has a day off coming on Thursday, but Oakland does not, forcing the A's to examine how to best align their rotation.
Kluber, who took over as the Tribe's No. 2 starter after Ubaldo Jimenez (Orioles) and Kazmir signed elsewhere over the offseason, said the rainout was hardly a problem. The right-hander spent the afternoon going over film and, following the postponement anouncement, he played a quick round of catch on the field.
"We've all been through rain delays before," Kluber said. "It just pushes you back another day. For me, I just wanted to go out there and play a little bit of catch right now to get my arm going a little bit. That's really it. There's nothing you can do about it."
Kluber said he was looking forward to doing what he could to build on the Opening Day outing by Justin Masterson, who shut out the A's for seven innings en route to a 2-0 victory on Monday night.
"Masty did a good job of setting a good tone," Kluber said. "That's kind of the idea for every series: start off the first one well and let everyone try to kind of build off that and feed off that momentum."
Indians manager Terry Francona said believes Kluber and McAllister are ready to take on more responsibility within the rotation.
"We need them," Francona said. "I think they're embracing the challenge and, now, they've just got to go do it."