BASEBALL PLAYOFFS : Game 3 Rained Out; Hershiser Will Face Mets’ Darling Today

Rain postponed Friday night’s Game 3 of the National League championship series between the New York Mets and the Dodgers, causing some juggling of the Dodger pitching rotation.

National League President Bart Giamatti called the game at 9:30 p.m., EDT, after waiting 65 minutes beyond the scheduled 8:25 p.m. start.

The rainout pushed Game 3 back to noon today, EST, and Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda said that the ace of his staff, 23-game winner Orel Hershiser, would replace left-hander John Tudor as the starter. Although Hershiser would be pitching with only three days’ rest instead of the usual four, he would also be available on three days’ rest to throw in Game 7, if the series goes that far.

Had the Dodgers gone with Tudor as scheduled in Game 3 and Hershiser in Game 4 Sunday night, the Dodger right-hander would have had only two days’ rest before possibly coming back for a Game 7.