NEW YORK – Heavy rain in New York on Saturday forced Major League Baseball to postpone a crucial playoff matchup between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels.

The sixth game in their best-of-seven American League Championship Series was delayed until Sunday night at Yankee Stadium with the Yankees leading the series three games to two.

A seventh game, if necessary, would be played in New York on Monday.

Reigning World Series champion Philadelphia defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League finals and awaits the Yankees-Angels winner.

The best-of-seven World Series showdown is set to begin Wednesday in the ballpark of the American League champion.

Southpaws Joe Saunders and Andy Pettitte were to have taken the mound on Saturday, with Pettitte trying to pitch the Yankees into their first World Series since 2003 by claiming a 40th American League crown.