KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Wandy Rodriguez wouldn't let a rainout knock him off a schedule that will allow him to start on opening day for the Houston Astros.
The left-hander was slated to make his second start of the spring Sunday against a Detroit Tigers split squad but the game was postponed because of a steady downpour.
Rodriguez pitched anyway.
"I threw about 60 pitches in the bullpen. I tried to (simulate) a game," he said. "I have to start again in five days at Disney, and I'll be ready."
Although he has not yet been named the opening-day starter, the way the spring rotation has been set, he's lined up to face the Colorado Rockies on April 6 in Houston.
"I decided Wandy wasn't going to start this game even if we did play it," manager Brad Mills said, "so he went down to the cages and got four innings of a simulated game in. So it's not going to affect him."
Rodriguez pitched three shutout innings in his first start against the New York Mets on March 6.
No makeup game has been scheduled for the Astros and Tigers.
"Jim (Leyland) and I have talked already twice," Mills said. "We couldn't get a 'B' game together for (Monday) because we have a night game, so we're going to try later in the week, try and get some of those at-bats and innings back."
The Astros are scheduled to play the New York Yankees in a Monday night game. Left-hander Kyle Weiland, who is competing for a spot in the Houston rotation, is scheduled to pitch.
Bud Norris will take his regular pitching turn in a simulated game Monday morning at the Astros' training complex.
Mills said the team's traveling squad for the Yankees game was changed slightly by the rainout. Third baseman Jimmy Paredes will replace Chris Johnson, who was listed as a designated hitter in Sunday's lineup, and center fielder Jordan Schafer will replace Travis Buck.
The Tigers' other squad played against the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater.
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