With four games against the Red Sox starting Thursday night in The Bronx, the Yankees could have done without the constant shower that washed out a Tuesday evening tilt against the Indians.

Because the forecast called for rain deep into the night, the Indians-Yankees game was postponed late Tuesday afternoon and rescheduled as part of a straight doubleheader Wednesday when the clubs were scheduled for a matinee.

Now, the Yankees will be coming off at least 18 innings of baseball and likely will have a fatigued bullpen going into a Thursday game against the AL East-leading Red Sox, who play the Blue Jays in Toronto on Wednesday evening.

“It is what it is and you got to handle it,’’ said Joe Girardi, whose club split the only twinbill it played this season July 16 against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. “We will be prepared for it. The day off today will help the guys, but they will be tired [Wednesday] but we will figure it out.’’

The perils of playing two games in one day affect bullpens the most because managers are reluctant to use a reliever in both games.

“I think what it does to the players from a physical standpoint, the way you are able to use your bullpen in a game and how it affects it the next day,’’ said Girardi, who should have a full house in the pen. “You could realistically use six or seven relievers in a doubleheader. Some guys are probably going to have to play 18 innings. The off day is nice but from a physical standpoint that takes its toll. Those are the difficulties in it.’’

Even if the game Tuesday wasn’t postponed, the Yankees were going to alter their rotation so their four best starters would face the Red Sox. CC Sabathia, who was slated to start Wednesday, was informed Monday he would open the Red Sox series.

Sabathia, who is 3-0 with a 0.90 ERA in three starts against the Red Sox this season, didn’t expect the news but certainly embraced taking the ball.

“I am here to pitch. Whenever they tell me that day is that is the day I am going to go,’’ said Sabathia, who is 10-5 with a 3.82 ERA in 21 starts this season and has worked twice since coming off the disabled list on Aug. 19 to beat the Red Sox, 4-3, at Fenway Park. “It is what it is and I will be ready to go on Thursday.’’

Outside of naming Jordan Montgomery (elevated from Triple-A) to start the second game Wednesday and Sabathia on Thursday, Girardi didn’t set the rotation for the rest of the Boston series. If he stays in order it would be Sonny Gray, Masahiro Tanaka and Luis Severino. Each would be working with an extra day of rest, which isn’t a bad thing this time of the year.

The Yankees, who are four games out of first place, won’t see their rivals after the Sunday night encounter, which makes the four-game series even more important.

“Any time we play them, especially right now, it’s always a big deal,’’ Sabathia said. “It does seem weird we aren’t going to play them [after Sept. 3]. I have never been a part of that. That will be a little weird but we will have to go out and try and win the series.’’