NEW YORK — Game 6 of the AL championship series between the Los Angeles Angels and New York Yankees was postponed because of rain Saturday.

The game was rescheduled for 8:20 p.m. Sunday at Yankee Stadium.

New York leads the best-of-seven series 3-2 and needs one victory to clinch its 40th pennant and reach the World Series for the first time since 2003. Game 7, if necessary, will be Monday in New York at 7:57 p.m.

‘‘The one thing is, you don’t want to stop and start, and we don’t know when the rain is going to get out of here,’’ Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. ‘‘I respect the decision that they made. I’m sure both clubs would have liked to have played, but the weather’s not permitting it.’’

If the Angels can push the series to a seventh game, the rainout could benefit them. No. 1 starter John Lackey, who took a shutout into the seventh inning in Game 5, could be available to pitch on three days’ rest.

‘‘We have some more options and obviously we’ll know better after tomorrow,’’ manager Mike Scioscia said. ‘‘I think it benefits both teams certainly in resetting the bullpens.’’

Rain had been falling off and on in New York since Friday night. A steady drizzle, with occasional spurts of heavy downpour, kept the tarp on the field all afternoon. The game was called by Major League Baseball nearly 2 hours before the scheduled first pitch of 7:57 p.m.