Rain over, but strong winds forecast for G4

October 17th, 2019

It's not raining in the Bronx anymore, but the weather might still have a big impact on Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Thursday night. This time it's the wind.

Strong wind is in the forecast at Yankee Stadium, and it's whipping around the ballpark as the Yankees and Astros prepare to face off at 8 p.m. ET. Take a look at the pennants ringing the upper deck.

The National Weather Service has a wind advisory in effect in the area until 6 p.m. ET. The forecast projects west winds in the 13-18 mph range, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

The big question for the game: How will the wind affect fly balls?

A west-to-east wind, as in the forecast, would mean the wind is blowing out to right field -- at Yankee Stadium, home plate is slightly to the southwest, and center field slightly to the northeast.

If that's the case, fans might see fly balls carrying out to the short right-field porch for home runs. Maybe a ball like Didi Gregorius' Game 3 flyout to the warning track off Gerrit Cole could make it into the seats if the wind is blowing out to right.

On the other hand, if the wind ends up blowing in, those same high fly balls could get knocked down for outs. And swirling wind around the stadium could make playing fly balls an adventure for the outfielders, and popups an adventure for the infielders.