Game 4 of the World Series between the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium is being delayed by rain.

"We are expecting a fairly persistent, light rain, or drizzle throughout the game," said Mark Britt, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis.

Rain falls Wednesday at Busch Stadium, site of Games 4 and 5.
(Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

"There could be some brief, moderate rain. Overall, it looks like kind of an ugly night."

Officials are anxious to get the game in because more rain is forecast Thursday, when Game 5 is scheduled (8 p.m. ET).

"I have been told that we are definitely going to play and we are probably going to play through some real tough conditions because, from what I understand, the forecast for the next two days is probably worse," Tigers manager Jim Leyland told reporters.

Not only will the field be slick, but temperatures are expected to dip to a chilly 2 C.

"I thought there was global warming going on," Tigers closer Todd Jones quipped. "But apparently, there's not."

"It's a little treacherous out there," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said.

St. Louis leads the best-of-seven set 2-1, with Jeff Suppan slated to start Game 4 against Detroit's Jeremy Bonderman. 

Suppan is 1-1 with a 1.86 earned-run average this post-season, plus was voted the most valuable player in the National League Championship Series.

The 31-year-old right-hander has yielded only two runs in 15 innings over his last two starts.

Bonderman is 1-0 with a 3.08 ERA in two post-season starts at Comerica Park.

The 23-year-old right-hander will try to pull the Tigers even knowing that 34 of 39 teams taking a 3-1 lead have gone on to win the World Series.

Among the five to rally from a 3-1 deficit to win the World Series were the Tigers, who accomplished the feat in 1968 against the Cardinals.

Games 6 and 7, if necessary, will be contested in Detroit on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

With files from the Associated Press