One rainout erased the ALCS off-day—and could force four straight games
After rain postponed Friday’s Game 4, the Guardians and Rays will play the next two games on consecutive nights, and a seven-game ALCS would end with four straight days of baseball.
ALCS Game 4 moved from Friday
ALCS Game 4 postponed by rain; Rays and Guardians to resume series Saturday | AP News
Game 4 of ALCS between Rays, Guardians postponed to Saturday - ESPN
Guardians-Rays ALCS Game 4 postponed by rain in historic first at Progressive Field
Cleveland Guardians vs. Tampa Bay Rays | ALCS Games 4 and 5 both moved due to rain at Progressive Field: What to know if you had tickets | wkyc.com
Rain moved the ALCS twice
Major League Baseball postponed Friday’s scheduled Game 4 between the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays after steady rain outlasted the hoped-for three-hour dry window. The call came about an hour after the scheduled first pitch, following hours of discussions among the league, teams and weather forecasters. Cleveland.com reported it was the first postseason rainout at Progressive Field. apnews +1
Game 4 is now set for Saturday, Oct. 17, at 8 p.m. ET; the original Saturday Game 5 shifts to Sunday, Oct. 18, at 5 p.m. Both remain in Cleveland. mlb The Guardians lead 2-1 after Thursday’s 3-2 win. apnews +1
A seven-game finish would have no day off
Sunday had been a scheduled off-day before a possible Game 6 in St. Petersburg on Monday. mlb +1 Game 7, if needed, is Tuesday. mlb +1 The postponement means that if the series goes the distance, the teams will play four consecutive days, Saturday through Tuesday. apnews +1 The winner is due to meet Milwaukee in the World Series, scheduled to begin at home for the Brewers on Oct. 23. apnews +1
The pitching matchup stays intact: Nick Martinez starts for Tampa Bay, while Shawn Armstrong opens a Cleveland bullpen game. mlb +1 The AP reports Armstrong has allowed one hit in 5⅓ postseason innings. apnews Cleveland reliever Hunter Gaddis had already appeared in seven of the club’s eight playoff games, making the compressed finish a potential test of bullpen depth. cleveland
Weather had already altered the series plan. MLB moved Thursday’s Game 3 start five hours earlier, from 6 p.m. to 1 p.m., to get ahead of a rain forecast; Cleveland.com reported that evening ultimately stayed dry. espn +1
Tickets follow the new dates
Fans with tickets to Friday’s original Game 4 can use them for Sunday’s Game 5. Tickets bought for the originally scheduled Saturday Game 5 remain valid for Saturday’s rescheduled Game 4. wkyc
If necessary, Games 6 and 7 remain scheduled for Monday and Tuesday at Tropicana Field. mlb +1