Rain May Affect Rotation Plans

Red Sox ace Curt Schilling was scratched from Sunday’s scheduled Game 5 start because of an injured right ankle, and though his return seems highly doubtful, the team has not ruled out the possibility of Schilling pitching later in the series.

Derek Lowe, demoted to the bullpen when the playoffs began, will start in Schilling’s place if the series is extended to a fifth game, but both the Red Sox and Yankees could alter rotation plans if the showers forecast for tonight in Fenway Park force the postponement of Game 3.

Officials from Major League Baseball and the Red Sox were already making preparations to play on Monday’s off day if tonight’s game was washed out. That would enable the Red Sox to bring back Game 2 starter Pedro Martinez in Game 5 on regular rest.

Yankee Manager Joe Torre on Thursday named Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez as his starter for Saturday’s Game 4, but if tonight’s game is rained out, the Yankees would probably bring Game 1 starter Mike Mussina back for Game 4 Sunday and Game 2 starter Jon Lieber back for Game 5 Monday, if necessary.

Schilling, who led the major leagues with 21 wins, lasted only three innings in Game 1 on Tuesday, giving up six runs and six hits in a 10-7 loss. He had trouble with his balance and drive off the pitching rubber, which had an impact on his command and velocity.

Schilling, who has a dislocated tendon behind his right ankle, is being fitted for a brace but was too sore to test it during Thursday’s off-day workout. He left the park without commenting but later called a local radio station.

“My No. 1 concern ... is altering my mechanics to try to adjust,” he told WEEI. “If I can’t pitch without altering my mechanics, then we’re going to have to win a World Series without me, which I think is entirely possible for us to do.”

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To have any chance of beating the Yankees, the Red Sox have to start hitting as they did in their division series sweep of the Angels, when they scored 25 runs in three games.

“There’s no panic -- we feel fine, we’re built to win,” Boston center fielder Johnny Damon said. “We just need our offense to show up. When it does, we’re very capable.”

Damon is hitless with five strikeouts in eight series at-bats, and No. 2 batter Mark Bellhorn has one hit in eight at-bats. Manager Terry Francona said he had no plans to shake up the top of his order.

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When the Yankees have men on base, particularly at second, the Red Sox believe the runners are tipping their hitters to pitch location.

In those situations, catcher Jason Varitek has set up early on one side of the plate, then shifted as the pitcher began his delivery.

Some on the Red Sox think Yankee hitters also are skilled at peeking back to find Varitek’s target, and that Varitek works to disguise location more against the veteran Yankees.

Varitek downplayed the Yankee tactics as unique, specifically mentioning the Angels and Toronto Blue Jays as other teams that engender similar concerns. But, he said, “we know what they’re doing.”

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Francona appreciated Martinez’s offer to start Sunday’s game on three days’ rest, “but I don’t think that’s going to happen,” the manager said.

Times staff writer Tim Brown contributed to this report.