Today is Rich Harden's kind of day:

It snowed Thursday in Detroit, and major league officials are so concerned about the weather that they moved the starting time up to 1:30 Pacific time rather than the original start time of 5:19 p.m. Forecasts call for temperatures in the upper 30s with possible snow flurries. "Hopefully, it will slow their arms down," A's designated hitter Frank Thomas said.

The piping hot Detroit pitchers nailed down a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, with the cold A's bats going 3-for-21 with runners in scoring position.

Rich Harden, who hasn't pitched more than five innings in a major league start since April 21, will start for the A's. Will his body be able to handle the frigid conditions?

"I'm from Canada. Come on," said Harden, a British Columbia native, breaking into a wide smile. "Maybe some of the guys from Texas like it in the 80s, but not me. I'm not too concerned about the weather."

Outfielder Jay Payton added: "It might be too warm for Rich. He might go out there in short sleeves."

Beyond the drop in temperature, 20 mph gusts are expected to take the wind-chill factor into the 20s. The forecasts are so dire that Game 3 could resemble an August night at Candlestick.

I was with the Baseball Tonight crew in 1997 for the Florida-Cleveland World Series. The temperature hit 90 in Miami, but when we arrived in Cleveland it snowed. We went from short sleeves to thermal underwear. Cold weather tends to dampen offense so we may see low scoring games in Detroit this weekend.

Update: Gary Peterson believes the Athletics are risking Harden's long term health by pitching him in this game.