Game 4 of the ALCS between the Rays and Guardians, originally scheduled for Friday, was postponed to Saturday due to inclement conditions. Game 5 has been moved to Sunday at 5 p.m. ET.
CLEVELAND -- The wait continues for the Guardians, who grabbed the momentum of this ALCS from the Rays at home Thursday, but sat through the rain Friday and eventually had Game 4 postponed to Saturday.
Up 2-1 in the series on the Rays after Thursday’s 3-2 win, the Guardians, who came into this series as the underdog, seem to have recaptured the magic of their AL Division Series comeback against the White Sox. They still have a shot to punch their ticket to the World Series at home, too, with a win Saturday and another in Game 5 on Sunday.
The Rays won 98 games for a reason, though, and now have an extra night to regroup for the biggest game of their season. Nick Martinez will make the start for the Rays while Shawn Armstrong will open the game for the Guardians, likely to be followed by a bullpen game.
Beginning Saturday, we’re looking at two days of playable weather in Cleveland and, if necessary, two days under the dome at Tropicana Field. There’s no stopping now.
“Let's go,” said Guardians manager Stephen Vogt. “It's [like] the regular season. We've played four in a row all the time. Obviously it's not ideal for either team. I think we both wanted to play today. It just wasn't in the cards. We've got four games in a row. We have an opportunity to win some games and move on. That's all we're focused on.”
Gavin Williams shut down the Rays’ lineup in Game 3, striking out nine batters over his five innings of work before handing off to his club’s great bullpen, led by setup man Hunter Gaddis and closer Cade Smith. They’ll each have some extra rest, too, after heavy usage in the ALDS and ALCS.
These past two games, with the Guardians’ win following a 3-1 victory by the Rays, are what this series is going to look like. This doesn’t feel like a series of offensive fireworks. It’s all about elite pitching, airtight defense and one play breaking each game open, like Petey Halpin’s two-run homer in Game 3. The margins are so thin in October, but especially between these two teams.
“It’s really a dogfight,” said Rays left fielder Chandler Simpson. “It’s really like we’re looking in the mirror almost, and against our best pitchers, they’re having great ABs and they’re putting the ball in play and moving the ball forward, and they’re picking their pitches, stealing bags and playing great defense. So we knew that it’s going to be a dogfight, and we’re going to have to play our game similarly as well. It’s really just the best of who plays their game to the best of their capability.”
If the Rays can’t do that in Game 4, they’ll be on the ropes, fighting for a chance to bring this series back to Tropicana Field.
When is the game and how can I watch it?
First pitch for Game 4 of the Rays-Guardians American League Championship Series is set for 8 p.m. ET on Saturday at Progressive Field. The game will be broadcast on TBS and HBO Max.
Spanish-language game broadcasts will be available on UniMas for the ALCS, and Spanish-language radio broadcasts will be available on Univision’s TUDN Radio.
Who are the starting pitchers?
Guardians: RHP Shawn Armstrong
Key Stats: Has allowed one hit in 5 1/3 scoreless innings over four postseason appearances
The Guardians are going with a bullpen game on Saturday, with Armstrong serving as the opener. His task will include facing a pair of dangerous right-handed-hitters near the top of the Rays’ lineup in Yandy Díaz, who bats leadoff, and Junior Caminero, who was originally scheduled to bat fourth before Friday’s rainout.
Joey Cantillo is among the Guardians’ options to pitch bulk innings behind Armstrong. He threw 17 pitches over one scoreless inning in Game 1 on Monday. The Guardians also have right-handers Tanner Bibee and Slade Cecconi on staff to piece together the 27-out puzzle. Bibee (33 starts) and Cecconi (21) were part of Cleveland’s rotation this season.
Foster Griffin is another potential option. Vogt noted before the postponement that the lefty was in line to be ready to pitch Saturday. Griffin will be on normal rest after starting Game 1 of this series, and could follow Armstrong.
Daniel Espino has served as an opener four times in the regular season and playoffs since September. But he has been a weapon in high-leverage spots in the middle innings this series, and pitched a scoreless inning in Game 3. The 25-year-old has pitched on back to back days just once this season (Sept. 24-25), between the Majors and Minors.
Rays: Nick Martinez, RHP
Key Stats: 13 IP, 0 R in two regular-season starts vs. Guardians
Martinez started Game 3 of the ALDS Oct. 7 at Yankee Stadium and pitched well in an abbreviated outing, holding the Yankees to two runs on five hits over 3 2/3 innings, but the Rays slotted Griffin Jax ahead of him in their ALCS rotation. But Martinez is the man the Rays want on the mound to get back in the series. He had a pair of brilliant performances against the Guardians during the regular season, as he fired seven scoreless innings in a 1-0 win at Progressive Field on April 28 and followed that up with six scoreless innings in a 3-0 victory at Tropicana Field on July 25.
The Rays should be able to bring back ace Drew Rasmussen to pitch Game 5 on normal rest, then they’d have Freddy Peralta lined up for Game 6 if they can send the series back to Tropicana Field.
What are the starting lineups?
Guardians: The Guardians’ original lineup prior to the rainout for Game 4 on Friday was the same one they’d rolled out in Game 3, so it’s likely we see the same on Saturday. It would be a surprise, at this point, if it didn’t. Vogt has stuck with a pretty standard mix in the postseason. Halpin has started the past four games, and he has earned another start after his go-ahead two-run homer in Game 3.
1. Steven Kwan, LF
2. José Ramírez, 3B
3. Chase DeLauter, RF
4. Jo Adell, DH
5. Nathaniel Lowe, 1B
6. Travis Bazzana, 2B
7. Patrick Bailey, C
8. Petey Halpin, CF
9. Brayan Rocchio, SS
Rays: After his two-run triple in Game 3, Simpson was bumped up to the No. 3 spot to get an extra early lefty against the righty-throwing Armstrong.
1. Yandy Díaz, DH
2. Jonathan Aranda, 1B
3. Chandler Simpson, LF
4. Junior Caminero, 3B
5. Liam Hicks, C
6. Victor Mesa Jr., RF
7. Jonny DeLuca, CF
8. Richie Palacios, 2B
9. Taylor Walls, SS
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Guardians: The Guardians should have everyone available given the extra day of rest. Armstrong’s two most recent outings were 1 2/3 innings, so Vogt will need everyone available behind the right-hander. Between the availability of Bibee, Cantillo, Cecconi and perhaps Griffin, he will have plenty of length available in relief. The Guardians should be aggressive with Parker Messick and Gavin Williams likely available to them in Game 5 and a potential Game 6.
Rays: Right-hander Tyler Wells and lefty Steven Matz each pitched two scoreless innings in Game 3, but it’s the postseason, so the approach remains all hands on deck, meaning they’ll likely still be available, if needed. Left-hander Ian Seymour has clearly established himself as a top setup option in front of closer Bryan Baker, and lefty Cam Booser has also been tasked with getting big outs against left-handed hitters. Right-hander Kevin Kelly and Wells are also setup options in front of Baker, who has recorded the save in each of Tampa Bay’s four wins this postseason.
Any injuries of note?
Guardians: None.
Rays: None.
Who is hot and who is not?
Guardians: Smith has a 1.00 ERA with 13 strikeouts in nine innings over seven appearances this postseason. Gaddis, who typically pitches right in front of Smith, has struck out seven batters over six scoreless innings. Ramírez is batting .367 with an 1.124 OPS and eight RBI this postseason while Game 3 hero Halpin is looking to build off his clutch two-run homer. Bailey, who’s expected to catch in Game 4, has homered twice this postseason.
Rays: Simpson has been a spark plug of late, contributing a key single during the three-run rally in the fourth inning of Game 2 and then accounting for all of the team’s offense with his two-run triple in the fourth inning of Game 3. But the top third of the lineup (Díaz, Aranda and Caminero) hasn’t quite played up to expectations, going a combined 1-for-12 on Thursday. Caminero went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts and hasn’t yet had the big moment everyone’s expecting.
Anything else fans might want to know?
• In Game 3, Williams passed Andrew Miller for fourth place in franchise history in postseason strikeouts, with 45. He trails Charles Nagy (55), Orel Hershiser (54) and Corey Kluber (47).
• This is the fourth time in franchise history Cleveland has taken a 2-1 lead in the ALCS. It won its 1997 series against the Orioles, and it lost in ‘98 to the Yankees and in 2007 to the Red Sox.
• The Rays trail 2-1 after three games of an ALCS for the first time in club history. In 2008, they had a 2-1 lead against the Red Sox, and in ‘20, they were up 3-0 vs. the Astros.
• Hicks caught two Guardians attempting to steal bases in Game 3, making him the first Rays catcher to record multiple caught stealings in a postseason game.