With Game 4 of the ALCS between the Yankees and Astros rained out, there is an extra day of rest before the series resumes. But the status of injured Giancarlo Stanton was still cloudy when Aaron Boone spoke on Wednesday afternoon.

Boone said he wasn't sure if Stanton would be available to start on Thursday, adding that he believes he'll be available as a bench bat -- as he was in Games 2 and 3. Stanton did not pinch-hit in either game.

"I do believe we have his bat off the bench right now," Boone said. "We'll continue to evaluate this as smartly as we can moving forward"

Asked at what point the Yankees would need to consider replacing Stanton on the ALCS roster, Boone responded by noting that since Stanton is available to hit, they don't feel like they're playing a man short.

If the Yankees replace Stanton at any point during the ALCS, he will not be eligible to be on the World Series roster should New York make it.

Boone said Tuesday that Stanton would "probably" be on the IL if it was the regular season, and Stanton said shortly after Boone spoke that he can hit but that playing the outfield is "the biggest question."

"That's gonna be the biggest hurdle right now," Stanton added about his ability to play the outfield, noting that he needs to move around more on the field to test out the injury.

With Stanton's situation still unclear, another twist was added on Tuesday when Brian Cashman said Mike Tauchman was healthy.

"He is healthy and eligible," Cashman told Joel Sherman of the New York Post. "That is why he has been down in Tampa doing all his stuff."

Tauchman has been out since injuring his calf Sept. 9 but is now a viable option to replace Stanton if the Yankees choose to go in that direction.

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