HOU-CWS Game 4 ppd., set for today (2 ET)

Monday's American League Division Series Game 4 between the Astros and White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field was postponed due to inclement weather.

It will be made up today at 2:07 p.m. ET/1:07 CT, originally scheduled as an off-day before a potential Game 5 back in Houston on Wednesday. The Astros lead the series 2-1 after Chicago rallied to win Game 3 on Sunday night.

“If anything, I really appreciate the swiftness that the league office made this decision,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “That gives us time to do whatever you got to do. It gives both sides another chance at resting their bullpen, but we'll see the effects of it tomorrow.

“I just didn't relish the fact of, from being so long in Chicago, that you can have extremely long rain delays and hours of sitting around here waiting to play. I think this is a good decision by the league.”

White Sox manager Tony La Russa said Monday's originally scheduled starter, left-hander Carlos Rodón, will start the rescheduled game on Tuesday. The Astros will hand the ball to Lance McCullers Jr., who threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings in Houston's 6-1 win in Game 1 on Thursday. Right-hander José Urquidy had been slated to start on Monday, but the rainout allows McCullers to pitch on four full days of rest.

Beyond both teams’ projected starters, an extra day of rest does provide some relief to their respective bullpens. Five Astros relievers were responsible for 5 1/3 innings after Luis Garcia was pulled with two outs in the third inning, while the White Sox ‘pen used five relievers to cover 7 1/3 frames behind Dylan Cease.

Both managers said almost all of their teams’ relievers would have been available on Monday -- though La Russa did clarify that Michael Kopech is unavailable after tossing 2 1/3 innings on Sunday -- but the postponement allows another opportunity to rest their bullpen arms and not risk overworking them following the nearly 4 1/2-hour affair.

“I don't know what Houston is saying, but that game was so long and a quick turnaround,” La Russa said. “I think this [postponement] makes for better baseball tomorrow.”

“Everyone was going to be able to go out there and do what we needed to get done today,” White Sox lefty Aaron Bummer said, “but having the extra day off definitely is going to be a little bit of deep breath and a breather for us.”

All tickets and parking passes for Monday's postponed game will automatically transfer and be active for Tuesday's rescheduled game. Gates to the ballpark will open at 11 a.m. CT and parking lots will open at 10 a.m.

The postponement has also not altered the timing of a potential Game 5 if Chicago forces the winner-takes-all matchup with a win on Tuesday. As of Monday afternoon, Game 5 (if necessary) is still scheduled for Wednesday at 8:07 p.m. CT at Minute Maid Park.