The Yankees’ contingent to next week’s All-Star Game is shrinking by the day. Mariano Rivera, who is bothered by a sore right triceps, has decided rest during the three-day break would be the best medicine for his condition. He was joined Friday by Derek Jeter, who just returned from the disabled list this week and believes his right calf would benefit from additional rest as well.

While the tarp was on the field at Yankee Stadium during a late-afternoon period of showers, Alex Rodriguez was undergoing an MRI on his aching right knee at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center and announced through the Yankees that he won’t play Tuesday night at Chase Field in Phoenix, either.

Jeter (shortstop) and Rodriguez (third base) were voted into the American League starting lineup in the fans balloting, and Rivera was named to the pitching staff through the players’ vote. Two other Yankees were also selected in the fans vote to start in the game, Robinson Cano at second base and Curtis Granderson in the outfield. Russell Martin was picked as the backup catcher.

The caution of the Yankees’ players is justified. While it is a great honor to be chosen for an All-Star team, the event itself is an exhibition game, albeit one whose outcome decides home-field advantage in the World Series. Nevertheless, the health of players to a contending team getting ready for the second half of the season is more important than their status for an All-Star Game.

Of more importance Friday was whether the Yankees would be able to get in the game against the Rays. The forecast called for showers throughout the night. The game was eventually postponed and will be made up Sept. 22.

This was not good news for the Yankees. Despite all the health issues they face (in addition to A-Rod, right fielder Nick Swisher was out of the lineup because of a bruised left quad), the Yankees voted as a team to play a dual-admission doubleheader Saturday, but the Rays voted against it.

At that point, it became a matter of finding a mutual date. Had the Yankees been willing to play a regular doubleheader Saturday, the Rays’ vote would not have mattered. The rules regarding split-admission doubleheaders require that both teams agree. The Yankees did not want to give up a date, which was understandable considering it is in the middle of the summer and the games scheduled Friday, Saturday and Sunday were all sold out.

And there was the matter of Jeter’s pursuit of 3,000 hits. The last three games before the All-Star break were his shot at reaching the milestone at the Stadium, and the Yankees just lost one of those games. After the break, the Yankees go on an eight-game trip to Toronto and St. Petersburg, Fla.

Fans holding paid tickets for Friday night’s postponed game may use them for the rescheduled game Sept. 22 or exchange them for any regular-season game at Yankee Stadium within 12 months of the postponed game, subject to availability. Please not that there is an extremely limited number of tickets remaining for Saturday’s and Sunday’s games against the Rays.

Tickets may be exchanged only at Yankee Stadium Advance Ticket Windows, which are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday and until two hours after the scheduled start time of any regularly scheduled home game.

Complimentary tickets or equivalent tickets bear no cash value and cannot be exchanged or redeemed for any benefits that may be offered to tickets with a dollar value. For complete information about the Yankees’ rainout policy, visit http://www.yankees.com/rainout.

With respect to tickets purchased through StubHub, phone 866-788-2482, visit http://www.StubHub.com or e-mail customerservice@stubhub.com for complete information about StubHub’s rainout policy.