On the Yankees beat

A few tidbits from tonight's rainout:

-- There will be back-to-back day-night doubleheaders, and with the Yankees' top four starters all going, it's going to have a ripple effect on the Yankees rotation next week. Expect Jeff Karstens, Darrell Rasner and someone else pitching in Toronto.

-- Cory Lidle will miss his next start because of inflammation on the inside of his right index finger, which he believes is from throwing his split-fingered fastball. He believes it's why he has struggled so much in his last two starts. He hopes to miss only one start and return with two starts to convince the Yankees he should be their fourth starter in the playoffs. Right now it's clearly Jaret Wright's job to lose.

-- David Ortiz refused to speak with the media. Must be still fooling himself that he never ripped Derek Jeter. Jeter considers it a done issue.

-- Hideki Matsui will return to the outfield on the Yankees next homestand. It would be sooner, but the Yankees don't want him playing on the turf in Toronto and Tampa Bay. Should add an interesting subplot to the final week of the season, seeing where Melky Cabrera plays (the bench.)

-- Gary Sheffield will play in a simulated game before getting activated, and that won't happen until the Yankees are in Toronto next week, at the earliest. They scheduled him to do extra work at first base in the afternoon today and yesterday, but had to cancel it both times because of the rain.