DETROIT -- The Tigers, already subject to six weather-related postponements this season, have moved up the start time for Wednesday's game against the Orioles in effort to avoid another rainout. Wednesday's game is now scheduled for a 1:10 p.m. ET start, moved up from an original start time of 6:40 p.m.
Tuesday's game is still on for a 6:40 p.m. ET first pitch.
The Tigers made the move after consulting with the O's as well as MLB, which has input on games when the visiting team isn't scheduled to come into town again.
The Tigers are coming off a lost weekend of games against the Yankees, with two games postponed due to all-day rain Saturday and an ice storm Sunday. While Tuesday provided chilly but dry conditions, Wednesday's forecast calls for a strong chance of rain all evening, potentially turning to snow late.
Moving up Wednesday's game time was preferable to risking another rainout and scheduling a doubleheader for Thursday.
"The weather looks really bad late in the afternoon," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We don't want any more doubleheaders, and I don't think the Orioles do, either. They've been through it, too. So the right thing happened here: Move the game up to 1 o'clock and try to beat the weather."
The Tigers already have a day-night doubleheader scheduled for Friday against the Royals, making up a postponement from two weeks ago. The Orioles are scheduled to fly back to Baltimore on Thursday night for a homestand beginning Friday night.
Tickets for Wednesday's game are good without exchange. Fans who can't attend the afternoon game may exchange their unused tickets for any future similar- or lesser-priced game on the Tigers' regular-season home schedule over the next 12 months, except for Opening Day next season.
"I've been in the game a pretty good while. This is probably the biggest run of tough weather," Gardenhire said. "And it's not just us; it's all northern teams. But you just have to deal with it. Baseball throws a lot of stuff at you. We've played in some pretty ugly days out there, and we've had to bang a few, so we're going to have some doubleheaders coming up, which will be taxing. But it's part of the thing. A lot of teams are in the same boat."