Game 4 of the American League Championship Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Guardians was postponed Friday night due to persistent rain in Cleveland. Major League Baseball officials had hoped for a three-hour break in the weather to allow the game to proceed, but showers continued throughout the evening, leading to the decision to delay the game.
Rays manager Kevin Cash noted that despite efforts from both teams and MLB to play the game, the weather conditions did not improve. “It made the most sense at this point… with no guarantee that another band of rain wouldn’t come,” he said. Guardians manager Stephen Vogt also acknowledged the series of consultations and weather checks that preceded MLB’s decision to postpone, emphasizing the importance of playing the game as scheduled but respecting the need to wait for better conditions.
The teams are scheduled to resume the series with Game 4 at 8 p.m. on Saturday at Progressive Field in Cleveland, followed by Game 5 at 5 p.m. on Sunday at the same venue. If necessary, Game 6 is set for 8 p.m. on Monday in St. Petersburg, Florida, and a potential Game 7 would follow on Tuesday without an off-day.
The Guardians currently hold a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series after Petey Halpin's two-run home run helped them secure a 3-2 victory in Game 3 on Thursday afternoon.
Both teams intend to keep their originally scheduled starters for the postponed Game 4. Cleveland plans to use a bullpen strategy, with Shawn Armstrong opening. Armstrong is making his fifth appearance of the postseason and has performed well in relief, allowing only one hit in over five innings with five strikeouts. He had been sidelined for most of the season due to a calf injury but returned late in the regular season.
The Rays will send right-hander Nick Martinez to the mound. Martinez started Game 3 of the Division Series against the New York Yankees, pitching just over three innings while allowing two runs. During the regular season, he compiled a 15-6 record with a 3.10 ERA, ranking sixth in the American League. He was notable for limiting opposing teams to three runs or fewer in 26 starts, third-best in the league.
The postponement comes amid a broader context of MLB postseason scheduling and salary debates. With the Milwaukee Brewers having swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, the upcoming World Series, set to start on October 23, will feature two of the league’s lower-budget teams if the Guardians or Rays advance to face Milwaukee. The Brewers, Guardians, and Rays are among the teams with bottom-half payrolls, highlighting an ongoing discussion among team owners about the need for a salary cap to ensure competitive balance. This matchup will be the first World Series featuring two such teams since 1991.
As the ALCS continues without days off for upcoming games, the teams remain focused on securing victories to advance, with the Guardians aiming to extend their series lead and the Rays seeking to even the matchup.