Makeup doubleheaders dot second-half slate

CHICAGO -- After making it through the month of May without one, the Tigers endured their fourth weather-related postponment of the season on Tuesday night.

Detroit had three games postponed because of weather in April. The Tigers will make up the April 3 postponement of a home game against the Royals on June 19, which cancels an off-day -- meaning the team will play 12 straight until its next day off. Other April postponements from games against the Indians (April 15) and at the Twins (April 27) will be made up with doubleheaders on July 19 and Aug. 23, respectively.

The July 19 doubleheader comes two days after the All-Star break, so the team will at least be well-rested, while the second twin bill is two days before an off-day. The grind of the second half is only made more taxing by such makeup games, but Tigers manager Brad Ausmus doesn't seem overly concerned about it.

"I mean, we just kind of deal with it as we come," Ausmus said. "We have an off-day lost next week, then all of a sudden we gain an off-day essentially yesterday, which it does help certain things. It helps bullpen arms, it allows most of our starters to be pushed back a day, but then months down the road we're looking at long stretches of games or doubleheaders where we need to have a sixth starter. So we deal with it as it comes up.

"Generally, when you play in the northern part of the country and you don't have a roof, you're going to have to deal with that."

Plus, Ausmus would rather see games get called early, like on Tuesday, than have to wait around in uncertainty.

"Absolutely. I mean, I would rather have that for sure," Ausmus said. "I think the players probably appreciate that, too, rather than hanging out, maybe playing, maybe not playing, maybe finishing it, maybe not finishing it. I think it's best for everyone really if it's going to be the type of night to just bag it, and we'll make it up at some point in the future."